Centre for Lifelong Learning invites you to a talk on ‘Geriatric Oral Health - The Indian and Global perspective’ by Dr. Kadambari Rawal (Department of Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials, Boston University).

Objectives of the Session

• Emphasis on Interdisciplinary approach to Geriatric care.
• Update on the state on Geriatric Health and oral health education in India compared to the rest of the world.
• Highlight the importance of good oral health during one's golden years.
• The role of social scientists and social workers in improving Oral health and hence overall health in the elderly.

What is Geriatric Oral Health?

With advances in modern medicine, older adults are retaining their teeth longer. Potential physical, sensory, and cognitive impairments associated with aging may make oral self-care (brushing/cleaning dentures) and patient education and communications challenging. The typical aging patient's baseline health state can be complicated by comorbid conditions (e.g., hypertension, diabetes mellitus) and physiologic changes associated with aging can adversely affect dental hygiene increasing the risk of undiagnosed oral diseases. The lack of dental clinics with handicap capabilities, the lack of hospitals with dental facilities and the rising costs of dental treatment raises questions about access to care for community dwelling elders.

This presentation aims to discuss the trends in dental practice for treating older adults in India versus the USA. The challenges such practice posses to the community in India, its financial implications, the growing need for interdisciplinary Geriatric care and how social scientists and social workers can help change the face of oral health among the elderly in India.

Structure of the Session

The session will be in the form of a slide presentation and interactive in nature to engage a multidisciplinary audience to brainstorm solutions for the existing problem at hand.

About the Resource Person

Dr Kadambari Rawal is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor at the department of Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman school of Dental Medicine. Since 2010, she has been part of BU Dental Health Center's Faculty Practice where she provides full mouth rehabilitation and esthetic dentistry services to Geriatric adults and special needs patients. She also exclusively practices geriatric dentistry at the long term care facilities of Hebrew Senior Life- a Harvard Medical School Hospital. She has instructed dental and medical, graduate and postgraduate students from Boston University and Harvard University, training them in geriatrics. She is involved in several ongoing research projects in geriatric dentistry with her colleagues across the globe from Europe, India and Japan. She is the faculty advisor for the American Association of Women Dentists at BU and represents the Women in Dentistry committee on the board of the Boston District Dental Society. She has contributed to several outreach efforts to bring dental care to the elderly and women in need both nationally and internationally. Dr. Rawal has won several academic accolades and was recently awarded the prestigious Lucy Hobbs Taylor Award in the June of 2016 for her services to community health. She also lectures across disciplines to encourage collaborations between different healthcare professionals to advance Geriatric Health. Dr. Rawal is an author and an avid blogger for Care Academy -an online resource for caretakers and families of geriatric patients. She is currently working with universities in India to add Geriatrics to their dental school curriculum.

Date: 27th February 2017 ( Monday)

Time: 2.30 pm to 5.00 pm

Venue: Room 8, First Floor, Adjacent to Library Building, School of Social Work block, Old Campus, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Opposite Deonar Bus Depot, V. N. Purav Marg, Deonar-400088

For Registration please contact: [ Download Registration Form ]

Ms. Veena Shinde/Mr. Ritesh
Secretariat
Room No:204, 2nd Floor
Centre for Lifelong Learning
M.S Gore Building
Naoroji Campus
Extn: 022-25525682
Email ID: veena.shinde@tiss.edu