A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO MANAGING POLYPHARMACY AND ITS ORAL HEALTH COMPLICATIONS (XEROSTOMIA) IN THE GERIATRIC POPULATION: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Abstract

The global population is aging at an unprecedented rate, a demographic shift that brings with it a parallel rise in the prevalence of chronic diseases and multimorbidity . This phenomenon has precipitated two converging, and often synergistic, public health challenges in the geriatric population: polypharmacy and its frequent complication, xerostomia. While often managed in separate clinical silos, these conditions are deeply intertwined, creating a cascade of adverse outcomes that diminish quality of life and place a substantial burden on healthcare systems. The convergence of these future directions restorative biotechnologies, predictive diagnostics, and integrated, accessible care models paints an optimistic picture. The management of polypharmacy and xerostomia is poised to evolve from a reactive, palliative discipline into a proactive, personalized, and potentially curative field of geriatric medicine. A fragmented approach, where a physician manages chronic diseases and a dentist treats oral symptoms independently, is proving insufficient to address the complex interplay of factors at hand. This review synthesizes the current evidence to advocate for an integrated, multidisciplinary framework as the essential standard of care for assessing and managing polypharmacy-induced xerostomia in older adults.