Multimorbidity - Oral Implants in Geriatric Patients

Old age as such is often regarded as a contraindication for oral implantology. Therefore the benefits of implant dentistry are frequently denied to multimorbid, geriatric patients with poor general health who might have experience a particularly large gain of oral health related quality of life from implants. Common age related diseases like diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, Parkinson's disease, apoplexy are no absolute contraindications for dental implants, provided such conditions are well controlled. Due the possibility of sudden changes of health, these patients have to be monitored frequently in a recall programme. Any prosthetic devices prescribed should be of a stable design that allows easy insertion and removal. The implant superstructure should be freely accessible for oral hygiene procedures performed either by nursing staff or by the senior himself.