Oral tissues - Considerations in geriatric patients

We as care-takers of the human masticatory apparatus and associated structures, need to be familiar with the physiologic changes, that take place due to aging in the structure and functions of the stomatognathic system. This does not imply that, one should concentrate only on the oral and dental aspects of aging. On the contrary we should examine and treat the patient as a whole and not his isolated oral and dental problems. As Of the primary importance to the prosthodontists are the effects of systemic aging changes on the oro-dental and associated structures. The paper summarizes in brief the degenerative changes contributing to the senescence.