The older dental patient - who cares?

People in the United Kingdom are living for longer and taking their natural dentitions with them into old age. If the dental profession as a whole is to be prepared to support the care of older people, a clear understanding of what it is to be old will be needed. But with much talk of this heavy metal generation having complex restorative needs, the technical aspects of care are being emphasised. This paper suggests that there may be more basic needs to be addressed.