Dental surgeons urge greater focus on the role of oral health in maintaining independence, dignity and quality of life in later years

The Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) at the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) has published new clinical guidelines to support oral health care for older people, calling for oral health to be recognised as an essential part of healthy ageing. 

With the number of people in the UK aged 85 years and over projected to double over the next 25 years, from 1.75 million in mid-2024 to 3.6 million by mid-2049, the guidelines highlight the importance of planning ahead for oral health as people’s wider health and care needs change with age.  

The new guidelines provide practical support for oral health teams across general, community, and hospital dental services. They are designed to help dental teams identify risks earlier, prevent avoidable deterioration, adapt care as people’s circumstances change, and ensure patients receive the right care in the right setting.  

For most older adults this will continue to be within general dental practice, while recognising that some people may require additional support through shared care arrangements, community services, specialist input, domiciliary care and end of life care. 

Dr Charlotte Eckhardt, former Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) at the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England), said: 

“Good oral health care is an important part of healthy ageing, supporting quality of life, independence and dignity. 

“These guidelines provide practical support for the whole oral health team. They bring together the latest evidence and expert clinical input to help practitioners deliver preventative, person-centred care that adapts to the people’s needs throughout later life.  

“We encourage the whole dental team to adopt these guidelines, share with their professional networks and help ensure older people receive high-quality, personalised oral healthcare throughout later life.” 

Supporting oral health in later life 

As people live longer and retain more of their natural teeth into later life, their oral health care needs can change. Ageing, reduced mobility, dementia and other long-term health conditions can make it harder for some older people to maintain their oral health or access dental care. Good oral health supports older people to eat and drink comfortably, communicate, and remain free from avoidable pain.  

For 76-year-old Dinesh Patel, a retired pharmacist from Hertfordshire, maintaining his oral health is an important part of staying active and independent. Dinesh enjoys gardening, long walks, and spending time with his grandchildren, and wants to continue doing the things he enjoys for as long as possible. 

Following a recent dementia diagnosis, Dinesh and his family are also thinking more carefully about planning for his future healthcare needs. 

“I've always looked after my health and tried to stay active. Being able to eat comfortably, spend time with my family and continue doing the things I enjoy is really important to me, and good oral health plays a big part in that,” said Dinesh. 

For Elizabeth, the importance of oral health became particularly clear when her father lost his lower denture. Although he could manage to eat without it, losing the denture was deeply upsetting and affected his confidence and sense of identity. The family was able to contact a dental professional who knew him and could visit their home quickly, providing reassurance that a new denture could be made. 

“When dad lost his denture, it hit us in a way we didn’t expect. It wasn’t just about eating or speaking - it was like a part of him had gone missing. Losing that denture took a piece of his confidence, a piece of his identity, and it broke my heart to see how much it affected him,” said Elizabeth. 

Elizabeth's experience highlights how closely oral health can be connected to dignity, confidence, and a person's sense of self as they get older. 

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. The clinical guidelines to support oral health care for older adults provides recommendations on supporting oral health and promoting preventative and personalised care for older people. Read the guidelines: https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/dental-faculties/fds/publications-guidelines/clinical-guidelines/supporting-oral-health-care-for-older-adults/
2. These clinical guidelines support clinical decision making for individual patients and are designed to sit alongside NHS England’s Framework for Maintaining the Oral Health of Our Ageing Population. This is the NHS England clinical standard and supports the planning and delivery of oral health systems for older people by dental commissioners and local authorities.  
3. The 2024-based national population projections (NPPs) from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) provide an indication of future developments of the UK and its constituent countries’ population size and age structure: National population projections, variant projections: 2024-based - Office for National Statistics 
4. Dinesh and Elizabeth’s stories are available upon request and may be available for interview, subject to prior agreement. 
5. The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England is committed to enabling dentists and specialists to provide patients with the highest possible standards of practice and care.   
6. The Royal College of Surgeons of England provides world-class education, assessment, and development to 30,000 surgeons, dental professionals, and members of the wider surgical and dental care teams, at all stages of their careers. Our vision is to see excellent surgical care for everyone. We do this by setting professional standards, facilitating research, and championing the best outcomes for patients. 
7. For more information, please contact the RCS England press office: telephone: 020 7869 6053/6054/6047; email: pressoffice@rcseng.ac.uk; out-of-hours media enquiries: 0207 869 6056.