[The characteristics of the removable denture treatment of the edentulous elderly].

PURPOSE

The increasing number of the elderly with in the general structure of population, has deep implications for dentistry. Age changes upon the tissues which make up the totally edentulous prosthetic field often lead to special therapeutical difficulties in the provision of a comfortable denture.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The work has at the main aim the same specific aspects met in the removable gnathoprosthetic treatment of the edentulous elderly patients (84 cases). The treatment applied took into consideration the changes occurred upon the tissues, general peculiarities of this age period but also the patients request.

RESULTS

The results obtained demonstrate the problems met during the prosthetic treatment of the edentulous elderly patients to reestablish esthetic function and the possibilities of restorative.

CONCLUSION

The prosthetic treatment of the elderly must have to the basis an integrative concept and not a standard one, being individualized for each particular case and every therapeutical stage must be adapted to the preestablished local and general Geroindex.