Dental student attitudes towards the elderly and training in geriatric dentistry

From analysis of the relationships between geriatrics, gerontology, dental education and dental practice three major questions arise about barriers to the creation of a strong subdiscipline of geriatric dentistry (1) Why is the dental care utilization of the elderly comparatively low despite their high objective needs for dental care? (2) Why has the dental profession failed to move into the potential market created by the elderly thereby leaving geriatric dentistry comparatively underdeveloped? (3) Why do training programmes in geriatric dentistry fail to change significantly the attitudes of dental students towards the elderly? Answers to these questions indicate the need for specific structural and attitudinal changes if the barriers are to be eliminated.