[Biological and psychological aspects of geriatric dentistry]

A normal adult becomes a normal old man when going through a whole process of physiologic involution called natural ageing, which does not spare the stomato-gnathic system. The authors first review the biological aspects of ageing as seen on the skin and facial contour, on dentition and teeth, on periodontium, oral mucosa, tongue, salivary glands, facial and masticatory muscles, facial skeleton and temporomandibular joints. They then follow with the psychological aspects of ageing, going necessarily beyond the limits of dental medicine. The authors finally discuss means to prevent that natural ageing becomes pathologic.