Geriatric dentistry – oral health in the third age

Abstract

Elder population in Brazil and worldwide has been growing in an accelerated rhythm. Dentists must be aware of this fact and enlarge his or her information about Geriatric Dentistry in order to provide an appropriate and efficient treatment and maximum comfort to the patient, once the service to these individuals requires more attention at the moment of establishing the diagnosis as well as at the accomplishment of the treatment. It must be considered that elderly generally show a great variance concerning systemic, psychological and social conditions, besides being carriers of several alterations resulting from the natural process of aging. Therefore, the authors propose a literature review on geriatrics, aiming to demonstrate to the dentist some peculiarities of the service, as well as quoting situations or alterations common to elderly patients that might interfere in their treatment.