Abstract

During the past century, the average life expectancy for both women and men has increased by roughly three decades. Today, a typical female will live until 80 years of age, compared to 74.7 years for her male counterpart.1 Of Americans age 65 and older, women outnumber men 21.4 million to 15.4 million.2 While women are living longer, they also face an increased risk of certain health issues associated with aging. Many conditions have manifestations on oral health, and recent findings indicate the inverse relationship may be true for certain diseases. Dental hygiene professionals have a unique opportunity to educate patients on systemic conditions, as well as develop collaborative treatment plans to improve their patients’ oral hygiene, overall health status and wellbeing.

This article reviews four common health conditions prevalent among aging women: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and osteoporosis. It will identify risk factors, prevention and treatment approaches and oral connections as well as describe specific treatment and home care products that help achieve realistic goals to promote optimal oral health.

Objectives

• Identify the top four women’s health concerns as they relate to the aging process.
  
• Link risk factors common to systemic diseases and identify oral concerns from medication use.
  
• Discuss the dental hygiene process of care in order to ensure optimal care.
  
• Explore tailored treatment protocols and product recommendations best suited for those with medical and/or oral concerns.