Periodontal disease and the ageing patient.

The UK's population is getting older and the number of older individuals retaining their teeth is increasing. Greater demands are therefore being placed on general dental practitioners for periodontal therapy. Many factors, including the ageing process itself, impact directly or indirectly on periodontal health. This article discusses these factors, their interrelationship and their relevance to clinical management of periodontal disease in older patients. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This article aims to give the practitioner an insight into the issues involved in managing older patients with periodontal diseases.