BARRIERS TO THE PROVISION OF COMPREHENSIVE DENTAL CARE IN GERIATRIC PATIENTS

India has a large geriatric population of 77 million comprising 7.7% of its total population. Increasing numbers of older people and the decreasing rates of edentulism highlight the importance of dental education that focuses on oral health and aging. Barriers to dental care have been investigated in adult population for several years. They include the functional and medical status of the individual, transportation and accessibility difficulty, financial considerations, previous patterns of dental utilization, lack of education and fear. This review article attempts to analyze the different barriers confronted by the elderly population in India which should help us to deliver comprehensive dental care