Changes in Chewing System With Aging

The chewing system; teeth, periodontal tissues, oral mucosa, salivary glands, neuromusculer system, jaw bones and temporomandibular joint go through natural physiological changes through life by age. In addition to natural aging, some other factors such as oral hygiene status, the amount of dental care, medical diseases and medications as well as the nutritional status of the patient also causes many pathological changes. These changes play an important role at intraoral treatment plan. In this paper the physiological and pathological changes encountered in all tissues of the chewing system in elderly was evaluated and reviewed.