[Geriatric dentistry: medical problems as well as disease- and therapy-induced oral disorders]

As in pediatric dentistry, management of the oral problems in elderly patients does not depend on the development of new technical skills, but rather on the knowledge of: biological, psychological and social aspects of primary (physiological or age-related) and secondary (pathological or disease-related) aging; atypical presentations of disease; multiple pathological conditions (polymorbidity, polypathophysiology, polypharmacy); an underreporting of disease; the importance of functional status; the role of an interdisciplinary team; Geriatric medicine refers to social, psychological and clinical aspects of disease in older adults. Geriatric dentistry deals with the respective aspects concerning oral diseases. Chronic conditions as well as their treatment (e.g. medication) are more common with advancing age. They may have major implications for dental practice, leading to changes in oral health behavior and attitudes of the elderly patient with sometimes detrimental effects on oral health. Therefore, different concepts in prevention, diagnosis and therapy of oral diseases are required for the oral care of older adults. Two important consequences must be considered: Firstly, the medical education of the dentist and the dental team must be improved. The dental team must become a member of the group of health-care professionals caring for an aging population (geriatric medicine) to meet the heterogeneous needs of as much as 75% of our future patients. Secondly, there is great need for education of all health-care professionals dealing with elderly patients about possible negative impacts medicine can have on oral health. Identification and diagnosis of oral disease as well as preventive measures must be stressed.