• Recognize when activities of daily living are changing for patients, what that means for dental health and how to prepare patients to keep their teeth
• Understand modifications that can be made to the dental office to assist those in the early to middle stages of Alzheimer’s receive dental care more effectively
• Witness the struggles those with Alzheimer’s experience
• Learn how to develop a program to support dental health through the entire spectrum of Alzheimer’s Disease

Currently there are 5.8 million suffering from Alzheimer’s in the United States. This number is predicted to rise to 14 million by 2050. Couple with that the fact it is rare those with middle to late stage Alzheimer’s receive dental care of any kind and it is a recipe for disaster. In fact, there is a disaster today, within the halls and rooms of locked dementia units across the US and the dental profession is oblivious. This course will take the attendees on an Alzheimer’s journey. It is imperative the dental team understands how to care for those with cognitive issues and realize what it is like to be affected by this disease. Recognizing the signs that things are changing for patients is key. Shoring up dental health before the disease advances is necessary. Decisions on how oral health will be maintained when the patient is no longer able to care for their own mouth need to be made early and need to be implemented quickly when the time is right. Few receive this kind of care.