Today’s topic is teeth and health – the elderly

On a sunny October day, approximately 150 members of SPF Värmland District gathered at Nöjesfabriken in Karlstad. This was the topic of today’s symposium Teeth and health.

One of the speakers was Yngve Gustafsson, Professor of Geriatrics at Umeå University. For those who are not studying or studying to become dentists, they are perhaps best known through television for the series ‘Sweden’s Best Nursing Home’ and ‘Sweden’s Best Home Care’. Yngve has researched dementia care and worked in elderly care.

We listened to an interesting, engaging and “rotten” lecture.

Yngve Gustafsson spoke about the importance of oral health for good aging and the importance of knowledge about aging for good care.

We were told:

Aging can change the prognosis in an older patient – ​​symptoms may be different than in a younger person.

This diet is important for good health and recovery

How infections and bacteria can spread from the mouth to the body

Medicines can be the cause of various deficiencies in the body

Anyway, we all got food for thought from Yengvi’s talk.

Many elderly people cannot go to the dentist. The next speaker gave us some hope in the darkness for this community group.

Goran Kamke Freeman, specialist dentist from the Värmland region Dental care groups We were told about the dental support that can be provided to people with nursing needs, certain disabilities, etc. Very interesting information for SPF members.

The final speaker of the day was Margaretta Lee, who spoke about her time as a dentist in Abu Dhabi, where she worked for just over 17 years. As a newly graduated dentist, she went to the emirate and we heard her story and the journey she and the country have taken over the years. Margarita spoke about the state of teeth today in the emirate. You have more tooth damage than before. The encroachments of modern society, with its lack of healthy foods and drinks, have a significant impact on teeth.

After the lectures, there was space for a question and answer session for the audience.

During the day, coffee and lunch were provided to all participants.