title: Geriatric oral and maxillofacial dysfunctions in the context of geriatric syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To propose the application of the concept of geriatric syndrome for common geriatric oral and maxillofacial dysfunctions and to suggest the necessity of developing effective evaluation methods for oral and maxillofacial frailty.
  
  
  METHODS
  The concepts of frailty and geriatric syndrome based on multi-morbidity and polypharmacy were applied to five common geriatric oral medicinal dysfunctional problems: salivary gland hypofunction (dry mouth), chronic oral mucosal pain disorders (burning mouth symptoms), taste disorders (taste disturbances), swallowing disorders (dysphagia), and oral and maxillofacial movement disorders (oromandibular dyskinesia and dystonia).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Each of the dysfunctions is caused by various kinds of diseases and/or conditions and medications, thus the concept of geriatric syndrome could be applied. These dysfunctions, suggested as components of oral and maxillofacial geriatric syndrome, are associated and interacted with each other in a complexity of vicious cycle. The resulting functional impairments caused by this syndrome can cause oral and maxillofacial frailty.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Geriatric oral and maxillofacial dysfunctions could be better appreciated in the context of geriatric syndrome. The development of effective methods for evaluating the severity of these dysfunctions and the resulting frailty is essential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Hygiene, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Gangwon-do, Korea.
authors.forename: N-H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea.|Institute on Aging, Seoul National University, Gwanak-Gu, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: H-S
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9960-9892
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kho
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002054:Burning Mouth Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D020820:Dyskinesias / Q000209:etiology*; D004421:Dystonia / Q000209:etiology; D000073496:Frailty / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D019338:Polypharmacy; D013577:Syndrome; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: frailty; geriatric syndrome; oral and maxillofacial dysfunctions