Dementia / Alzheimer's / cognitive impairment
Dementia is progressive cognitive decline affecting memory, judgment, communication, and function. Includes Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and mixed types. Dental relevance: (1) higher risk of caries/periodontal disease/oral infection due to reduced self-care, (2) consent/capacity issues requiring surrogate decision-making, (3) cholinesterase inhibitor medications cause bradycardia/syncope risk, (4) high sensitivity to sedatives and opioids (delirium, falls, over-sedation), and (5) behavior management challenges in moderate-advanced disease.
The full condition entry includes
- Safe vs avoid lists: antibiotics, analgesics, local anesthetics
- Vasoconstrictor limits and treatment modifications
- Pre/intra/post-op monitoring and deferral criteria
- Emergency management, explained for study
More medical conditions in dentistry
Dentalverse is an educational resource for dental students and dentists. This page is a study reference — it is not medical advice and does not replace clinical judgment. Always follow your institution's protocols and your supervisor's guidance.