A competency-based curriculum for geriatric dentistry in undergraduate and postgraduate education : a scoping review

The rapid rise in the number of older adults, including frail and dependent individuals, has increased demand for medical and dental care. This study aimed to develop a competency-based framework for undergraduate and postgraduate geriatric dental education by identifying key themes and corresponding competencies through a scoping review.

A scoping review was conducted using Ovid-MEDLINE, Ovid-EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library, including studies published from January 1, 2010 to June 13, 2025, and following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews. Eligible studies were screened in two stages, consisting of title/abstract screening and full-text review, and were analyzed using thematic synthesis to identify curricular domains and derive a structured competency framework.

The initial database search yielded 1403 articles, of which 42 met the inclusion criteria after full-text review. Thematic synthesis identified four main categories of geriatric dentistry curricula: (1) existing curricula worldwide; (2) educational themes and competencies; (3) teaching and learning methods; and (4) postgraduate and continuing education curricula. Across these areas, 8 major themes were identified, informing the development of a competency framework comprising 6 core competencies, 34 sub-competencies, and 72 enabling competencies. These competencies encompassed aging-related physical, cognitive, and psychosocial changes, oral health management, interdisciplinary communication, ethical and legal considerations, and clinical practice in outreach settings.

This study proposes an integrated, staged competency-based framework for geriatric dental education that bridges foundational undergraduate learning and more advanced postgraduate training. By organizing the literature into major themes and corresponding competency domains, the framework provides a practical reference for curriculum planning and revision in response to population aging and the increasing complexity of geriatric oral healthcare.