Normal Oral Mucosal, Dental, Periodontal, and Alveolar Bone Changes Associated with Aging

Abstract

The oral hard and soft tissues assist in three essential functions in human physiology: (1) the initiation of alimentation, (2) protection of the host, and (3) communication. The teeth, the periodontium, the alveolar supporting bone, and the mucosal soft tissues exist to prepare food for deglutition. The oral cavity is exposed to the external world and is potentially vulnerable to a limitless number of environmental insults. Accordingly, oral mucosal tissues in addition to saliva and a complex array of neuroand chemo-sensory tissues provide host defense against a plethora of potential dangerous microbes and noxious compounds. They also contribute to the enjoyment of food and alert a person to potential problems. The tongue, muscles of facial expression and mastication, and oral mucosal tissues enable speech and communication. Importantly, the activities of the oral hard and soft tissues, muscles of mastication and facial expression, and neuroand chemo-sensory tissues are finely coordinated, and a disturbance in any one function can significantly compromise speech, alimentation, host defense, and diminish the quality of a patient’s life. With the increased longevity of many older populations in the world, there has arisen greater risk for developing oral disorders. Furthermore, significant increases in the retention of teeth have occurred in recent decades (Beltran-Aguilar et al., 2005), which has resulted in a greater number of tooth surfaces at risk for dental decay and periodontal diseases in older populations. Therefore, there is a greater burden on health care practitioners to prevent, identify and expeditiously treat oral hard and soft tissue disorders in older adults. Prompt treatment and identification of these disorders will prevent the development of problems with