Mili Doshi

Title: The importance of prevention

Aim: This lecture aims to improve the audience's understanding of managing the oral health needs of the ageing population. Many older people will be increasingly vulnerable due to increasing cognitive, medical, and physical disabilities that significantly impact oral health and dental care needs. Dentists must ensure that prevention of dental disease is a priority and that treatment planning is pragmatic and considers the future needs of the ageing patient.

Learning outcomes: 

• Increase understanding of the changing demographics of the older population.
• Describe the importance of preventative dental care for older people and the role of the dental team.
• Discuss pragmatic treatment planning for the older  person considering medical, social and cognitive changes.
• Increase awareness of some safety considerations for removable prosthodontics in the older population.

Biography:
Mili is a Consultant in Special Care Dentistry at Surrey and Sussex Health Care NHS Trust and the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability. Mili developed the Health Education England national initiative ‘Mouth Care Matters’ to improve the oral health of adults in hospitals that was rolled out across England. Mili is the past president and current chair of the British Society of Gerodontology. She is the author of several articles in peer-reviewed journals and editor of a book on the oral health of older people. Mili was awarded an MBE in 2018 for service to NHS dentistry and the BDA award for excellence for contribution to special care dentistry in 2023.