When you take a dental assisting course or attend dental hygienist school, youa��re preparing for an important career which helps people take better care of their oral health. While that most certainly is the main responsibility of professionals in this career path, it looks like therea��s something else you may be doing when you become a dental hygienist or a dental assistant. You very well may find yourself on the front lines of identifying and preventing decay of overall physical and mental health in seniors. At least thata��s what a new study out of England suggests.
The Study
Researchers at University College London (UCL) determined that people who lose all of their teeth show a quicker decline in walking speed and memory than those who keep at least some original teeth. They looked at 3,166 adults over the age of 60 and saw that people who had lost all of their teeth ten years earlier performed 10% worse in the study than those who hadna��t.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, arrived at its 10% number after taking into account several mitigating factors. Researchers accounted for socioeconomic status, existing health problems, smoking, drinking, physical health, health behaviours, socio-demographic characteristics, relevant biomarkers and depression.
The correlation between tooth loss and reduction in mobility and memory was more apparent in people aged 60-74 than those aged 75 and up.
What it Means
Researchers did not conclude that the tooth loss itself necessarily caused the debilitated movement and memory, though they didna��t rule it out either.
“Regardless of what is behind the link between tooth loss and decline in function,a�? lead author Dr. Georgios Tsakos (UCL Epidemiology & Public Health) said, a�?recognising excessive tooth loss presents an opportunity for early identification of adults at higher risk of faster mental and physical decline later in their life. There are many factors likely to influence this decline, such as lifestyle and psychosocial factors, which are amenable to change.”
Tsakos also added: a�?We find that common causes of tooth loss and mental and physical decline are often linked to socioeconomic status, highlighting the importance of broader social determinants such as education and wealth to improve the oral and general health of the poorest members of society.a�?
It is therefore important for dental assistants to remember that when tooth loss is present, providing a patient with ways they might prevent this occurrence from increasing could end up saving more than their teeth. If successful, the patienta��s overall physical and mental health could improve in the long term.
Everyone knows the old adage a�?healthy body, healthy mind.a�? We might need to update it just a bit to embrace the new reality: a�?healthy teeth, healthy body, healthy mind!a�?
How would these findings impact your role and duties as a dental assistant or dental hygienist?
