Orthodontic treatment in elderly patients.
OBJECTIVE
In recent years there has been a significant increase in the number of elderly patients requesting orthodontist consultations. Masticatory performance is an important factor influencing the quality of life in independent healthy elderly subjects and only the restoration of skeletal and dental relationships in the three planes of space can assure oral health and functions with the consequential nutritional balance of the whole organism. The rehabilitation treatment in elderly subjects must comprehend orthodontic and prosthetic needs. This kind of treatment has two main goals: firstly, the restoration of oral function and secondly the restoration of facial morphology.


METHODS
In this article three clinical cases treated with multidisciplinary approach are described showing an efficient procedure to a successful management of the elderly patients.


RESULTS
The results obtained underlined an oral cavity in good condition which facilitates adequate nutritional intake, an essential factor in the health and well-being of elderly patients and it is important for preserving physical and mental health.


CONCLUSIONS
With appropriate treatment planning and selection of the patients, the orthodontic therapy can be accomplished successfully elderly patients.
Department of Orthodontics, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Cinzia
C
Maspero
Davide
D
Farronato
Lucia
L
Giannini
Giampietro
G
Farronato
D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology; D000075202:Contraindications; D016321:Dental Care for Aged; D003829:Denture, Partial; D003970:Diastema / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000628:therapy; D008311:Malocclusion, Angle Class I / Q000628:therapy; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D024343:Open Bite / Q000628:therapy; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D018704:Orthodontic Retainers; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000379:methods; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011788:Quality of Life; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D014716:Vertical Dimension