Geriatric dentistry

Geriatric dentistry is the delivery of dental care to older adults involving the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of problems associated with normal aging and age-related diseases. Nowadays, people live more and more years with their natural teeth.

Many dental problems can appear during aging, such as osteoporosis, which is characterised by reduced bone density and an increased risk of fracture. This disease is considered a risk factor for dental implant failure and leads to poor support of the teeth.

Saliva secretion often reduces to the elderly, causing dry mouth (and associated problems). Dry mouth is also connected with various medical treatments that senior patients could be receiving.

-The tooth nerves recede, leading to a loss of sensation of the teeth themselves. This means that senior patients might feel tooth decay at a very late stage.

-Increasing wear with aging is observed in cervical and occlusal/ incisal tooth surfaces.

Senior patients might need to visit the dentist more often, namely from 6 to 3 months.

Furthermore, many patients decide to do a dental lifting after the age of 50, in order to restore the harmony in their face.