# Value of Oral Health Assessments for Older People with Memory Complaints Visiting a Memory Clinic for a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment: A Cross-Sectional Study

## TL;DR

This study shows that all older adults with memory complaints have oral health issues, suggesting that adding oral assessments to geriatric evaluations could improve overall health outcomes.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates the universal presence of oral health problems in memory clinic patients, regardless of dementia status, advocating for integrating oral assessments into geriatric care.

## Key findings

- All 144 participants had at least one oral health problem, regardless of dementia diagnosis.
- Common issues included carious lesions, periodontal pockets, and denture-related problems.
- No differences in oral health were found between patients with and without dementia.

## Abstract

Public health relevance—How does this work relate to a public health issue?
Cognitive decline and memory complaints are highly prevalent in ageing populations. Comprehensive geriatric assessments used in memory clinics often omit oral health, despite its known association with general health and quality of life.Oral health problems such as tooth decay, gum disease and denture-related issues are widespread and largely preventable, making them a significant yet under-recognized public health concern in older adults.

Cognitive decline and memory complaints are highly prevalent in ageing populations. Comprehensive geriatric assessments used in memory clinics often omit oral health, despite its known association with general health and quality of life.

Oral health problems such as tooth decay, gum disease and denture-related issues are widespread and largely preventable, making them a significant yet under-recognized public health concern in older adults.

Public health significance—Why is this work of significance to public health?
This study demonstrates that oral health problems are present in all patients with memory complaints, regardless of a dementia diagnosis. This indicates a substantial unmet need in current geriatric care pathways.By identifying oral health issues early within existing clinical assessments, there is potential to reduce avoidable complications, healthcare costs and further decline in overall health.

This study demonstrates that oral health problems are present in all patients with memory complaints, regardless of a dementia diagnosis. This indicates a substantial unmet need in current geriatric care pathways.

By identifying oral health issues early within existing clinical assessments, there is potential to reduce avoidable complications, healthcare costs and further decline in overall health.

Public health implications—What are the key implications or messages for practitioners, policy makers and/or researchers in public health?
Integrating structured oral health assessments into comprehensive geriatric assessments could improve the early detection of oral health issues and facilitate timely referrals, supporting a more preventive approach to care for older adults.The findings highlight the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and future research to develop standardized oral health screening protocols within geriatric and memory care settings.

Integrating structured oral health assessments into comprehensive geriatric assessments could improve the early detection of oral health issues and facilitate timely referrals, supporting a more preventive approach to care for older adults.

The findings highlight the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and future research to develop standardized oral health screening protocols within geriatric and memory care settings.

The risk of memory complaints and cognitive decline increases with age, leading to many older adults being referred to memory clinics for cognitive screening including a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). Although CGA covers medical, cognitive and social domains, it commonly omits an assessment of oral health, despite evidence linking poor oral health to cognitive impairment and reduced quality of life. This study assessed the value of incorporating an oral health assessment into the CGA and explored differences in oral health between patients with and without dementia. Patients with memory complaints attending a memory clinic between April 2022 and May 2025 were asked to undergo an oral health assessment and complete an oral health questionnaire alongside the CGA. Patients unable to cooperate or incapacitated to consent were excluded. In total, 144 participants were included. The mean age was 73.7 years; 59.7% were male. Most participants had natural dentition (75%), and most had carious lesions (93.5%) and periodontal pockets (97.3%). Among denture wearers, denture-related problems were common (61.7%). No differences in oral health were observed between patients with and without dementia. All participants had at least one oral health problem, regardless of whether or not they had dementia. Integrating structured oral health assessments into the CGA therefor has value as it offers opportunities for early detection, intervention, and prevention for further decline in overall and oral health.