Geriatric Oral Health: Why the Aging Mouth Matters in Clinical Documentation and Patient Outcomes

Title: Geriatric Oral Health: Why the Aging Mouth Matters in Clinical Documentation and Patient Outcomes

Presenter: Dr. Silvia Sarazin, BDS

Date: March 9, 2026

Time: 5:00 p.m. PT/7:00 p.m. CT/8:00 p.m. ET

Credit: 1 Clinical Medicine (CM)

Description: 

The population of older adults in the U.S. is growing rapidly, which is driven by increased life expectancy, a large retiree population, and rising chronic disease burden. Within this context, oral health remains a critical yet frequently under-documented component of geriatric care.

This session is designed for U.S.-based healthcare documentation professionals, clinical staff, and health information specialists who want to better understand how oral health conditions in older adults intersect with systemic disease, medication use, nutrition, and overall quality of life. Participants will gain an overview of common geriatric oral health conditions including periodontal disease, xerostomia, tooth loss, and oral infection and their relevance to conditions highly prevalent in Texas, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive impairment.

The session will emphasize why accurate recognition and documentation of oral health findings in older patients are essential for care coordination, risk stratification, and patient safety within U.S. healthcare systems. Using practical, U.S.-based clinical examples, attendees will explore how oral health information appears in medical encounters, where it is commonly missed in documentation, and how improved awareness can support clearer, more complete health records. This webinar bridges clinical knowledge and documentation practice to strengthen patient-centered geriatric care across US healthcare settings.