title: Epidemiology of nondental oral disease in the elderly.
abstract: This article presents the descriptive epidemiology, risk factors, and clinical highlights of the oral mucosal lesions that are most common or of greatest concern among the elderly. Leukoplakia, oral cancer, candidiasis, lichen planus, and RAU have not been studied extensively among the elderly. Recent efforts to standardize definitions and research methods should greatly enhance future information. The paucity of research on oral lesions such as herpes zoster, epulis, and oral medication reactions is surprising, given that these are common problems among the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Ecology, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Watkins
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology