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The impact that demographic evolution is going to have on society in the coming years is going to be reflected, how could it be otherwise, in the practice of dentistry. ;a.

Currently, in our country, 17% percent of people are over 65 years of age and more than two million are over 80. The profile of this population group has evolved to become an active agent in economic and political decision-making. The elderly patient presents physiological changes typical of aging, a systemic pluripathology, often a high consumption of drugs and specific nutritional needs. In addition to all this, the social and psychological situation of many of these people is deteriorating. marked by the current economic reality to which is added in many cases a reduction in mobility when not a marked disability.

It is in this context that dentistry must pay attention to social demands and be sensitive to the need to adapt the current situation to current reality.

Most dentistry professionals spend a considerable portion of their time caring for older patients with no knowledge other than that acquired through day-to-day experience. aa day and the academic training they received. All in all, an important sector that does not move to dental offices, institutionalized or with severe mobility problems, remains outside dental care. Even those who can move still face architectural limitations or barriers in many of the clinics scattered throughout the country.
The obvious deficiencies, both structural and healthcare, are complemented by deficiencies from the point of view of view of specific formation.

There is an increasingly numerous professional current of dentists who, under the protection of the process of debate on the creation of specialties in which we are immersed in our country, advocate the existence of a specialty in Geriatric Dentistry. Regardless of this, Gerodontology has already been incorporated into teaching in the Degree in compliance with the recommendations made by the Council of European Dentists (May 28th 2010, CED Resolution Annex V.3 /5.3.1 of Directive, 19th November) in relation to the fact that university education includes the subject of Gerodontology in its study plans. As a result of these guidelines, the 13 Spanish Public Universities  7 of them have Gerodontology in their teaching plans for the Degree, 3 as an Elective and  4 as Compulsory or Core. The rest of Universities, including private ones, also  They have Gerodontology in their teaching offer. At our University, the International University of Catalonia, in addition to being part of the compulsory curriculum, we offer the only Gerodontology postgraduate degree in Spain for which we have the presence of professors from other universities. In Europe, the European College of Gerodontology brings together professionals and institutions interested in the subject, and in the Latin American world, in particular, there is a growing interest in geriatric dentistry.

The necessary knowledge for effective assistance in Geriatric Dentistry has been incorporating advances such as implant techniques and overdentures in edentulous patients with limited availability or That is, the concepts of atraumatic and minimally invasive treatment or prevention aspects for patients who are cared for or live in centers for the elderly, functionally dependent and frail.

It is for all these reasons that we apply integrated dentistry for the elderly patient in our practice.

Dr. M. Ribera Uribe

**Translated with Google Translate