[Geriatric dentistry in dental education]

Geriatric patients have both special medical problems (problems with aging and general health problems) and specific dental problems. This requires special skills of dentists who are treating these patients. The medical problems require a dentist with a wide medical education and a friendly attitude towards his patients. The dental problems require a dentist who is more problem orientated on his way of treatment. Both aspects are present in the theoretical teaching in most of the dental schools. For treatment of institutionalized geriatric patients it is advocated to train specialists in geriatric dentistry taking into account the need for a multidisciplinary and specific approach.