Age Changes Flashcards
What are some age changes in alveolar bone lead to
Gradual reduction in bone mass
Can lead to osteoporosis
Tooth loss - atrophy of alveolar bone
Without denture - loss of facial height
More extensive and quicker in the mandible
Cyclo oxygenase 2 (COX 2) needed for bone repair reduces delayed bone healing
Mineralisation of mandible increases - more resistant to bending
What are age changes in the TMJ
Functional changes following tooth loss
Remodelling can cause disc displacement especially anterior leads to perforation joint damage
Retro discal tissues - adaptive changes to decreased cellularity and vascularity increased density of collagen
What nerve and muscle age changes are there
Neurotransmitters - motor dysfunction
Muscle function dependent on performance of nervous system
Nerve cell loss is universal in old age and is exhibited in brain and spinal cord
What did Hubbard and Squier 1989 find about age and nerves
Peripheral nerve function declines
Reduction in conduction velocity
Increased latencies in multi synaptic pathways
Decreased conduction at neuromuscular junctions
Loss of receptors
What oral mucosa age changes are there
Stratified squamous epithelium becomes thinner
Loses elasticity and atrophies
Declining immunological responsiveness increase risk of trauma and infection
May develop vesiculobullous, desquamtive, ulcerative, lichenoid and infectious lesions
What sensory changes are there with age
Tase and smell decline
Reduced appetite as food becomes tasteless
Reduced taste buds - renewal is slower
What salivary gland changes are there with age
Dry mouth - xerostomia
Can be caused by medications
Salivary glands undergo atrophy and become fibrotic
What are periodontal age changes
Fat cells start to appear in older periodontal ligament
Principal collagen fibre bundles become thicker, broader and highly organised
Jagged and uneven alveolar bone with irregular fibre insertions
Teeth may be less mobile - increase root length, change in number and diameters of principle fibres
What enamel age changes are there
More brittle
Less permeable
Darkening
Mineral and organic material may be absorbed
Progressive thickening of underlying dentine
Surface enamel can become more mineralised
Attrition
Abrasion and erosion increase
Perikymata disappear
What dentine - pulpal complex age changes are there
Continued formation of secondary dentine
Reduction in size and obliteration of pulp chamber
Dentinal sclerosis - may affect adhesive systems
Number of tubules in secondary dentine reduce together with number of odontoblasts
Roots brittle
What are 5 physiological age changes
Continued production of secondary dentine
Reduces the height of pulp horns
Pulp move apically out of crown on anterior teeth
Reduced distance between chamber roof and floor in posterior teeth
Pulp becomes narrow concentrically in roots
What pulp changes are there with age
Approx 50% of original odontoblasts is lost
Less vascular less cellular more fibrotic
Reduced response to injury decrease healing
Reduced nerve supply with greater thickness of dentine
Vitality testing more challenging
Pulp tissue is tougher may form dense collagenous plug that is as impregnable
What cementum changes are there with age
Gradual increase in thickness
Deposited rhythmically - incremental lines lines of salter
Increased amounts of cementum with secondary and reparative dentine - reduce tooth sensitivity and perception to pain
