Abstract

SAEZ CARRIERA, Rolando; CARMONA, Maribel; JIMENEZ QUINTANA, Zuilen  and  ALFARO, Xiomara. Oral changes in the older adult. Rev Cubana Estomatol [online]. 2007, vol.44, n.4, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-297X.

Aging is a dynamic process of morphological, functional, psychological and biochemical modifications that start at birth and develop throughout our lives. Getting old is not the same as getting sick. Along the aging road, a series of changes in the organs and systems take place. In the aging process, the risk of acquiring diseases and disabilities increases, as well as the need to lay down goals to improve the older adult's health. Based on these concerns, we proposed to describe the oral changes occurring in older adults, and to determine the relationship between sex and systemic alterations with the appearance of oral changes in the older adult. A higher percentage of oral changes was found in the totally edentulous older adults. The reabsorbed alveolar crest was the most frequent oral change. The greatest number of oral changes was reported in the females, and a direct relation was evidenced between the systemic alterations and the oral changes, among which the group of diabetic patients was the most affected.

Keywords : Geriatric patients; oral changes.

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