Prevention and promotion of oral health in older adults: Evaluation of programs and approaches through systematic review
Keywords:
Salud oral; Adulto mayor; Anciano; Promoción de la salud; Educación en salud; Hogares para ancianos; Prevención primaria., Oral health; Older adult; Elderly; Health promotion; Health education; Nursing homes; Primary prevention.Abstract
<Introduction: oral health in older adults represents a global public health problem with significant impact on quality of life, nutritional status, and overall health. Population aging increases the prevalence of oral pathologies, requiring effective preventive strategies.
Objective: to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of oral health prevention and promotion programs in older adults, identifying successful interventions and barriers to implementation.
Methods: a systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and SciELO databases up to December 2024. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and clinical trials on educational interventions and professional oral care in adults ≥60 years were included.
Results: educational interventions for caregivers improve knowledge and attitudes, with variable impact on residents’ oral health. Professional oral care significantly reduces dental plaque. mHealth technologies show promising results. Main barriers include limited resources, high workload, and insufficient staff knowledge.
Conclusions: multicomponent interventions that integrate professional education, supervised oral care, and digital technologies demonstrate greater effectiveness. A multidisciplinary approach with standardized protocols and continuous training is required to sustain improvements in oral health among older adults.
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