Oral care may help slow cognitive decline in dementia patients

Numerous studies have demonstrated an association between periodontal disease and dementia, and recent research suggests that properly treating periodontal disease may help improve cognitive function in patients with dementia, highlighting the importance of oral care in this population.

Professor Lee Jung-tae of the One-Stop Collaborative Care Center at Seoul National University Dental Hospital (SNUDH) said studies have reported improvements in cognitive function among dementia patients after damaged molars were restored with fixed prostheses. He added that implant-supported fixed prostheses were found to alter brain activation.

“For patients with severe dementia, an oral care plan should be established to ensure thorough oral hygiene and prevent their oral health from worsening,” Lee said.

After being diagnosed with dementia, patients and caregivers often focus primarily on dementia treatment, pushing oral care down the list of priorities.

Even so, experts say the key is to begin proper dental care early after a dementia diagnosis and restore chewing ability when teeth have been lost due to dental problems, including through implants or fixed prostheses.

“Oral care for dementia patients starts with changing the perception that dementia treatment should come first after diagnosis and oral care can wait until later,” Professor Lee said.

“A multidisciplinary approach that combines timely periodontal treatment, restoration of chewing function and consistent oral hygiene maintained jointly by patients and their caregivers is the most effective way to slow dementia-related cognitive decline,” he added.