Nutrition in the aged and dental prostheses
Miquel, J.L.; Manciet, G.; Monsalve, E.R.; Ferran, P.; Michelet, F.X.
Boletin de la Oficina Sanitaria Panamericana. Pan American Sanitary Bureau 98(3): 228-235
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-0632 PMID: 3157389 Document Number: 265821
The physiology of elderly people differs from that of the adult. They have lost part of their reserves and their capacity for adaptation; they are more vulnerable to the agressions of the environment and their reduced flexibility makes them fragile. Assistance to the elderly exposed to the risk of malnutrition should, in principle, be preventive. Nutritional alterations in the elderly are often linked to mouth and dental deficiencies, i.e., periodontal disease, loss of teeth and defective phostheses. The geriatrist should work in close collaboration with a stomatologist in determining proper treatment for the elderly patient with nutritional imbalance. Since chronic diseases expose the elderly to rapid malnutrition, the previous nutritional state of the patient should be assessed and he should be provided with suitable physiological mens and nourishment at an early stage to correct any anomalies detected.