Baylor College of Dentistry
Dr. Eleonore Paunovich
to highlight dental care
for geriatric patients
at Niessen Symposium
T
By Carolyn Cox
he burgeoning retirement-age population in the U.S.
and its ever-increasing impact on dental care will be
spotlighted during the third annual Linda C. Niessen
Geriatric Dentistry Symposium at Texas A&M University Baylor
College of Dentistry.
This year’s May 15 event will feature Dr. Eleonore Paunovich,
director of oral health clinical programs for geriatric and special
care patients at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System
in San Antonio. She also is clinical professor in geriatric dentistry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San
Antonio and clinical program director of its Geriatric Dentistry
Fellowship.
The U.S.’s shifting demographics mean dramatic increases in
the number of older patients served by dental practices – 1 in 5
patients will be 65 years or older by the year 2030, according to
U.S. Census Bureau projections.
“While this growing population of older adults remains healthy
and active, aging does present challenges to health care
providers such as multiple chronic medical problems, multiple
medications, functional limitations as well as cognitive impairments,” Paunovich says. “Many of these issues associated with
aging may present barriers to access to care in dental practices.”
18 NORTH TEXAS DENTISTRY | www.northtexasdentistry.com
At the symposium, she will offer strategies for the dental management of medically challenged older adults to increase awareness of ways to ensure safe, appropriate and comfortable care
to this population. Paunovich will provide preventive and
restorative approaches to managing caries and periodontal disease among individuals with chronic conditions of the cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, endocrine, renal and
gastrointestinal systems.
Care of patients with neuromuscular degenerative disorders
including Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and stroke will
be covered, along with treatment recommendations for older
patients with cognitive challenges.
The symposium will offer 7 hours of continuing education credits provided through the Office of Continuing Education.
Register online at https://geriatricsymposium.eventbrite.com.
Founded in 1905, Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas
is a college of the Texas A&M Health Science Center. TAMBCD is a nationally
recognized center for oral health sciences education, research, specialized
patient care and continuing dental education.
Carolyn Cox is publications manager at Texas A&M University Baylor College
of Dentistry, where she has been employed for 25 years. A 1986 journalism
graduate of Texas Christian University, she resides in Lewisville, Texas.