[Aging, a frightening image of dental health?]

The combination of decreasing oral self-care and increasing risks of oral health make elderly people an oral health risk-group. In many elderly people above the age of approximately 75 the decline in functions culminates in infirmity. Frail and infirm elderly people require geriatric care, but often oral health care is not an integral part of geriatric care. Geriatric oral health care could be promoted and encouraged by dental hygienists. Unless geriatric oral health care will be promoted, ageing and especially dependent ageing seems a spectre of oral health.