[Changing paradigm for better oral health of the elderly]

Gerodontology is still understanding itself as a special field that is caring for elderly persons in the 4th stage of life needing nursing and generally living in an institution. In spite of all efforts that have been made, oral health of this population has not really improved. The reason for this lies in the fact that the causes of oral diseases which we face in institutions occur much earlier, in the so-called 3rd stage of life, in which the elderly are living at home and care for their daily life more or less independently. Oral problems arising in this stage of life are closely related to the increase of chronic diseases. The latter and the following social consequences significantly affect dental care ability. Excluding these health risks in the 3rd age e. g. through a systematic medical and social screening of the elderly in the dental office, it will be unlikely to succeed in improving oral health of elderly persons living at home and thus of those in institutions.