Vincent J R, Tenenbaum M P, Massicotte P
Département de Santé Communautaire, Centre Hospitalier de Verdun.
J Dent Que. 1992 Jan;29:15-7.
Quebec presently has 650,000 people over 65 years of age and as many as 900,000 will be alive at the beginning of the 21st century. Quebec epidemiological studies have shown that this group's dental condition is very poor. They feel no need to see a dentist, but 96% of them need treatment and the time elapsed since their last dental visit averages 13 years. It is forecasted that the dental needs of this group will rise, not only because of their increase in number but also because they will retain more teeth. Training in geriatric dentistry is presently deficient in the United States, Canada and particularly Quebec. Researchers have concluded, after studying the U.S. dental schools' current status of geriatric dentistry educational activities, that unless dental students receive training in geriatrics while at dental school, it is likely that they will not treat a lot of seniors in their practice. The teaching of geriatric dentistry is in full swing in the U.S. but knows a difficult birth in Quebec. There is no formal, extensive training program in geriatric dentistry given by the three dental schools in the province. Practicing geriatric dentistry requires special knowledge and skills. If treatment is to be successful, the practitioner must adopt a humanitarian approach and develop close relations and a better understanding of the feelings and attitudes of the elderly. The dentist must know and understand the special dental problems that makes them different from other groups.
魁北克省目前有65万65岁以上的老人，到21世纪初，这一数字将高达90万。魁北克省的流行病学研究表明，这一群体的牙齿状况很差。他们觉得没有看牙医的必要，但其中96%的人需要治疗，他们上一次看牙医至今的时间平均为13年。据预测，这一群体的牙齿治疗需求将会增加，这不仅是因为他们人数增多，还因为他们保留的牙齿更多了。目前，美国、加拿大，尤其是魁北克省，老年牙科学方面的培训都很欠缺。研究人员在研究了美国牙科学校老年牙科学教育活动的现状后得出结论，除非牙科学生在牙科学院期间接受老年医学方面的培训，否则他们在执业时很可能不会为很多老年人治疗。老年牙科学的教学在美国正蓬勃开展，但在魁北克却举步维艰。该省的三所牙科学校都没有提供正规、全面的老年牙科学培训项目。从事老年牙科学需要特殊的知识和技能。要想治疗成功，从业者必须采取人道主义方法，与老年人建立密切关系，并更好地理解他们的感受和态度。牙医必须了解并理解那些使老年人有别于其他群体的特殊牙齿问题。
