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Diseases in the Elderly pp 373–378Cite as

Oral Issues and Related Disorders in the Elderly

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Abstract

With ageing, structural changes occur in the oral and perioral tissues. With age, there is a decrease in pulp cell density with increase in sentinel thickness. Over the years, it was accepted that dental caries forms through interaction of acid-forming bacteria, carbohydrates and host of other factors relating to the teeth and saliva. Today, it is acknowledged that dental caries is much more complex and is caused by the interaction between tooth structure biofilm, dietary, saliva and genetic factors. Periodontitis is most common in the elderly and is most important cause of tooth loss. Tooth wear is the result of processes such as abrasion, attrition, erosion and demastication. The most common cause of oral cancer is squamous cell cancer.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sydney Medical School (Westmead), The University of Sydney, North Rocks, Australia

    Nages Nagaratnam

  2. Norwest Specialist Medical Group, Bella Vista, New South Wales, Australia

    Kujan Nagaratnam

  3. Blacktown-Mt Druitt Hospital, Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia

    Gary Cheuk

Authors
  1. Nages Nagaratnam
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  2. Kujan Nagaratnam
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  3. Gary Cheuk
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Appendices

Multiple Choice Questions

  1. 1.

    The following are true in relation to dental caries, EXCEPT:

    1. A.

      Dental caries is caused by interaction between the tooth structure, biofluid, dietary, saliva and genetic factors.

    2. B.

      Biofilm/fluid bacteria live in microcolonies encapsulated in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances.

    3. C.

      The molar teeth and the pits and fissures of permanent posterior teeth are the most vulnerable for carious lesions in more than 90 % of cases.

    4. D.

      It is accepted that dental caries forms through an interaction of acid-forming bacteria, carbohydrate and a host of other factors relating to the teeth and saliva.

  2. 2.

    The following are true in relation to the teeth, EXCEPT:

    1. A.

      Tooth wear is the result of processes such as abrasion, attrition, erosion and demastication.

    2. B.

      Regurgitation, coke swishing and fruit mulling are the major causes of erosion.

    3. C.

      Poor nutrition and diseases such as diabetes increase the rate and severity of periodontal destruction.

    4. D.

      In erosion, stained tooth suggests acid erosion and wear are active, whereas stain-free tooth suggests erosion is inactive.

Answers to MCQs

1 = D; 2 = D

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Nagaratnam, N., Nagaratnam, K., Cheuk, G. (2016). Oral Issues and Related Disorders in the Elderly. In: Diseases in the Elderly. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25787-7_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25787-7_18

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-25785-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-25787-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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