Systemic diseases and the elderly.

UNLABELLED: Although systemic diseases can occur at any age, they are more common in older patients. Accurate and detailed medical and drug histories are important in dental practice as many conditions and medications can influence oral health and dental care in patients. Not only can these conditions influence patient care in the surgery and oral hygiene at home, but access to dental services may also be adversely affected. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The systemic diseases can impact upon oral care or can have oral manifestations. Many of the pharmacological interventions prescribed for chronic conditions can have multiple and diverse adverse effects on the oral environment.