Craniomandibular disorders in the geriatric patient.

This paper represents a general review of basic age-related changes that take place in the craniomandibular apparatus and the most frequently presenting conditions associated with craniomandibular disorders (CMD) in the elderly. The evaluation of geriatric patients with signs or symptoms of CMD must consider (1) normal age-related changes in the craniomandibular apparatus and their impact on both normal function and responses to stress; (2) the role of dentition status and dental prosthesis in CMD; and (3) the contribution of malignant disease, psoriasis, arthritic conditions, pseudogout, granulomatous vascular conditions, and metaplastic involvement of tissue to the pathosis of CMD. The clinician must also be aware of various effects of psychologic, sociologic, and biologic aspects of aging on the development of headache and atypical facial pain as components of CMD in the geriatric patient.