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Sammanfattning

Age and health are important factors in any treatment. The main purpose of the article has been to discuss the necessity of replacing missing teeth in the frail elderly. Currently, neither reliable definitions for acceptable oral function nor the need for tooth replacement exist, nevertheless, the dentist must relate to these concepts. ”The Shortened Dental Arch Concept” describes acceptable oral function in the elderly which can still be obtained, even in severely reduced dentitions. Informed consent is only fulfilled when the elderly person is fully cognisant of all acceptable treatments. Optimal treatment can be impeded by a reduced ability to endure long-lasting, multiple appointments, motor diseases or financial limitations. Some simplified prosthetic treatments with reduced longevity can be justified, whilst others are contraindicated due to possible tissue harm. Prosthodontics may sometimes be justified for the elderly, even if oral diseases are imperfectly controlled. Deciding whether to repair or renew prostheses is difficult and must be assessed individually. Small fixed dental prostheses (bridges) are easy to produce, usually provide better oral function, may not cost more than partial removable dental prostheses, are preferred by the elderly and should never be excluded as an option. The need for replacing missing teeth in the elderly will persist but replacements should be implemented after careful individual evaluations.

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