Dental informed consent challenges and considerations for cognitively impaired patients

Because the US population is living to an older age, the number of individuals with cognitive impairment and periodontitis is increasing, as both conditions/diseases increase with age. Dental informed consent best practices for dental/periodontal treatment of individuals with cognitive impairment have not been explored, yet warrant consideration, because complex dental treatments to address periodontal needs/edentulism raise challenges for informed consent in the elderly with cognitive impairment. The purpose of this review is to help practitioners better understand this topic and develop best practices in dentistry for informed consent of patients with cognitive impairment that need extensive dental treatment, including surgical and implant therapy.