Needs and barriers for interprofessional collaboration in oral health care for frail home-dwelling older people: experiences of primary care professionals in Belgium.

Background: Although older people are at risk for worsening oral health, dental attendance decreases in Belgium for home-dwelling frail people after the age of 65, resulting in a high burden of untreated oral disease. Furthermore, primary care professionals do not seem to pay enough attention to oral health. Objective: Oral health is an integral and essential part of overall health and well-being. Oral diseases do not only share common risk factors with overall health problems (e.g. aspiration pneumonia, cardiovascular disease, diabetes), but can also cause mental health issues (e.g. feelings... Mehr ...