Homocysteine, folate, and dysplasia: who is the enemy?

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.