Oral health in geriatrics

Abstract

Aging of population due to downward trends in fertility and mortality is a major concern worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Due to prolonged life span there is a notable increase in the proportion of elderly patients who need dental care. Dental treatment should be adapted based on the age related oral mucosal changes and underlying systemic conditions. Dental professionals play a key role in diagnosing the oral manifestations of systemic diseases in older people. This paper reviews the effect of aging on oral tissues and the common oral and systemic conditions in geriatrics. The review of literature was done electronically as well as manually. For electronic search, various scientific journals and web-based search engines were used. The search terms were geriatrics, oral manifestations, systemic diseases, elderly. Cross references of relevant articles were also retrieved. The review focuses on the common oral conditions like oral mucosal disorders, oral infections, dental and periodontal diseases including salivary gland disorders. Dental treatment for patients with systemic diseases like hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and neurological disorders are also highlighted. Oral diseases in the elderly people should be managed by regular professional and personal care and requires an understanding of the changes that occur with advancing age.