title: Oral mucosal and osseous disorders in frail elders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper reviews the implications of frailty for oral health in old age due to the incidence of oral pathoses following on mucosal atrophy, tooth loss, trauma from dentures, polypharmacy, malnutrition, salivary disorders, degeneration of jawbone and cancer.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Frailty as a condition of old age occurs when elders have energy levels below a critical threshold, or when the social or cultural environment is limited.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Frail elders are particularly vulnerable to pathoses, but not simply because of old age per se. Oral diseases accompanying frailty are due to a complicated mixture of biopsychosocial changes that accompany old age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Management of oral mucosal and osseous disorders in frail elders requires an understanding of the changes that occur with advancing age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Dental Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. macentee@interchange.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Michael I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: MacEntee
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nolan
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Thomason
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000150:complications; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007571:Jaw Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000503:physiopathology*