Active aging and the challenges for geriatric dentistry in health promotion

Abstract

The importance of health promotion in active and healthy aging process is undeniable. In the same way, it is fundamental to recognize that oral health promotion along the life course of individuals and collectivities contributes for the well being of elderly people. The evolution of the epidemiological framework of elderly people oral health has been addressed by the literature in several areas and raised some issues, most of them concerns, from theoretical and practical point of view, for several segments of the society. This text proposes a reflection about the process of active aging and the challenges generated by it for Geriatric Dentistry, especially in the oral health promotion.