Carvalho T S, Lussi A
Department of Preventive, Restorative and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
J Oral Rehabil. 2017 Apr;44(4):291-298. doi: 10.1111/joor.12474. Epub 2017 Jan 28.
Throughout lifetime, the teeth are continuously exposed to numerous chemical and physical impacts, which cause the wear of the dental hard tissues, gingival recession and other oral changes with sometimes subsequent problems. Age-related wear of tooth surfaces reduces the dental enamel thickness and exposes deeper layers of enamel, which have different physical and chemical properties than the surface enamel. Gingival recession is the main causal factor of root caries and dentine hypersensitivity. Age-related changes in dentine include the formation of secondary dentine and the reduction in tubular lumen diameter (dentine sclerosis), which lead to a reduction in the volume of the pulp chamber. In addition to the reduction in the volume of pulp chamber, changes to the dental pulp also include dental pulp calcifications. The age-related physiological changes to the teeth should be carefully distinguished from pathological changes, especially when they induce pain or a negative impact on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of the older individuals. Therefore, regular oral examinations coupled with early preventive measures should aim at maintaining oral health until old age.
在整个生命周期中，牙齿持续受到众多化学和物理影响，这些影响会导致牙齿硬组织磨损、牙龈退缩以及其他口腔变化，有时还会引发后续问题。与年龄相关的牙齿表面磨损会使牙釉质厚度减小，并暴露牙釉质更深的层次，这些深层牙釉质的物理和化学性质与表面牙釉质不同。牙龈退缩是根龋和牙本质过敏的主要成因。牙本质与年龄相关的变化包括继发性牙本质的形成和管腔直径减小（牙本质硬化），这会导致牙髓腔体积减小。除了牙髓腔体积减小外，牙髓的变化还包括牙髓钙化。应仔细区分与年龄相关的牙齿生理变化和病理变化，尤其是当这些变化引发疼痛或对老年人的口腔健康相关生活质量（OHRQoL）产生负面影响时。因此，定期口腔检查及早期预防措施应以维持老年人的口腔健康为目标。
