COMPLETE DENTURE 4:

THE EFFECTS OF AGING ON THE

EDENTULOUS STATE
 THE AGING POPULATION
---population in western
countries is aging at an
unprecedented rate.
---10% are older than 65yo
---women outnumber men 1:2
because they live longer
---average life expectancy:
men- 73yo
women- 80yo
 DISTRIBUTION OF EDENTULISM
AMONG OLDER PEOPLE
---prevalence of edentulism is on a decline
---half of the people 65yo and above has total tooth
loss
---1/4 has at least one edentulous jaw
---men have teeth in old age than women
---edentulism is related with socio-economic status
 IMPACT OF AGE ON THE EDENTULOUS MOUTH

I- MUSCOSA
---more vulnerable to trauma and carcinogens for the ff.
reasons:
a. atrophy
b. mitosis

---lesions: due to stomatitis

mild inflammation: due to defective and dirty
dentures
II- BONE
---bone quality decreases with age
---decrease efficiency of osteoblasts
---bone resorption surpasses bone formation
---jaws become more porous with age, likely due to
metabolical rather than functional reasons
Osteoporosis
---a disorder due to accelerated loss of trabecular
bone that occurs usually, but not exclusively in women
after menopause
III- SALIVA

functions:
a. lubrication and cleanser
b. eases the passage of food around the mouth
c. contributes to sensation of taste
 salivary glands can be subject to damage by:
a. radiation
b. potentially xerostemic medications
---xerostomia
Effect of the quality and quantity of saliva in CD
wearers:
1. helps stabilize and retain the dentures
2. change in salivary quality can make food taste
metallic or salty
 ORAL MOVEMENTS AND OLD AGE
---people chew slower
---poor muscle coordination, weak muscles
---change in swallowing is not a normal part of aging
and may point to some underlying pathosis
 NUTRITION
---diet influences longevity and aging favoring
restrictions on fat and protein

Factors that can affect malnutrition on the elderly:

1. socio-economic status
2. drugs
3. state of the dentition
---faulty dentures predisposes to a soft diet high in
fermentable carbohydrate
---broken, loose or missing dentures makes the wearer
prefer to live in isolation rather than appear with
friends with a defective smile
---can lead to physical and mental deterioration
 AGING SKIN AND TEETH
I. SKIN
a. reduced concavity and pout of the lips
b. flattening of the philtrum
c. deepening of the naso-labial groove
d. accentuation of the sag of the middle third of the
face
e. hallowing of the cheeks
f. cheilosis (Kaylosis)
II. TEETH
---shade of natural teeth will vary as the enamel is
abraded exposing the dentin to extrinsic stains
---its not easy to or acceptable to reproduce this jagged
appearance
END