Oral mucosal and osseous disorders in frail elders.
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.
MacEntee
Michael I
MI
Department of Clinical Dental Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. macentee@interchange.ubc.ca
Nolan
Anita
A
Thomason
John M
JM
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*