[Aging and the oral cavity]

Like all tissues in the human body, those within the buccal cavity undergo changes with ageing, which are observable in clinical practice. Such changes include the appearance of lingual varicosities, glossitis, atrophy of the taste papillae and of the salivary glands, with variable degrees of xerostomia, periodontal disease and predisposal to develop malignancies. Dental units may also be affected, with occurrence, among other processes, of abrasion, attrition, caries and lowered dentarian sensibility, phenomena of interest for the odontologist in handling geriatric patients.