Aging of Dental System
The extent of tooth loss is influenced by diet, jaw structure, other teeth, the mechanics of chewing, oral hygiene, and professional care. Becoming edentulous, or toothless, is not inevitable in the aging process.
The enamel covering of the teeth becomes thinner over a lifetime, and teeth become darker as the dentin, which is the body of the tooth, shows through. Repeated contact with substances that stain also make the enamel darker. Odontoblasts, the cells that produce dentin, change and diminish with time. Degeneration of nerves and atherosclerosis of blood vessels take place in the pulp cavity. The cement that holds the tooth in place decreases with age and is exposed as gums recede. Receding gums deprive the cement of neurishment. Fat deposits and fibrosis in the salivary glands reduce secretions and the whole mouth becomes dry.
Reference :Farrell J : Nursing Care of the Older Person, J.B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, 1990.
