A transformative interprofessional model for geriatric oral health care - A proposed working model

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new interprofessional model to integrate oral health into geriatric care, aiming to improve health outcomes for older adults.

Contribution

A novel interprofessional model that integrates oral health into comprehensive geriatric care is proposed.

Findings

The model promotes structured collaboration among multiple healthcare professionals to address oral health disparities.

It includes strategies like tele-dentistry and portable dental units to improve access for functionally dependent older adults.

The model is feasible and expected to enhance patient satisfaction and overall quality of life.

Abstract

The rapid global expansion of the geriatric population has intensified the burden of chronic diseases, functional decline, and healthcare utilization. Oral health, despite its well-established links with systemic health, nutrition, cognition, and quality of life, remains marginalized within conventional geriatric care models. Fragmented health systems and discipline-specific silos have perpetuated inequities in oral healthcare access for older adults.

This Perspective article proposes a transformative interprofessional working model designed to integrate oral healthcare into comprehensive geriatric services, thereby addressing oral health disparities and promoting holistic, person-centred care for the ageing population.

The proposed model brings together dentists, geriatricians, psychiatrists, nutritionists, clinical pharmacists, and occupational therapists within a cohesive care unit. It emphasizes structured interprofessional collaboration, clearly defined roles, and shared care pathways. In addition to clinical integration, the model prioritizes education and capacity-building for caregivers, healthcare workers, and students. Key components include geriatric-friendly clinic design, community and caregiver education modules, home-based oral healthcare, tele-dentistry, and the use of portable dental units to improve access for functionally dependent older adults.

The model demonstrates feasibility in real-world settings, with anticipated outcomes including improved patient satisfaction, earlier identification of oral–systemic risks, reduced unnecessary medical referrals, enhanced continuity of care, and better oral and general health-related quality of life among older adults.

By reframing oral health as an integral component of healthy ageing, this interprofessional model offers a scalable and adaptable framework for academic institutions, policymakers, and healthcare systems. Its adoption could significantly reduce oral health disparities and contribute to sustainable, preventive, and integrated geriatric care globally.

Older adults commonly present with multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and functional limitations that directly influence oral health, yet dental care remains largely disconnected from geriatric services. This fragmentation leads to delayed diagnosis, reactive treatment, and preventable declines in quality of life. An interprofessional model integrating dental and geriatric care enables early risk identification, coordinated prevention, and continuity of care. By addressing shared biological, functional, and social determinants, this approach repositions oral health as an essential component of holistic, person-centred healthy ageing.

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