Prosthodontic treatment concepts for old and very old patients

Although tooth loss is still a reality in the old and very old patient, it is increasingly shifting to an age when fragility and morbidity significantly impact on prosthetic care. Hence, the denture design has to correspond to the age-related changes in oral tissue and function. Novel digital technologies provide certain advantages in treating elder edentulous patients, in particular with regards to impression taking, as well as copying features from the old existing denture to the replacement one. However, as clinicians we would like to check the individual steps of denture manufacturing to succeed the treatment. The Geneva protocol for denture manufacturing provides a digital workflow, that takes this aspect into consideration, but benefits at the same time from the advantages of the CAD/CAM technology, namely enhanced material properties, biocompatibility and cost-effectiveness. With ageing, and even more with neuro-degenerative diseases, motor skills deteriorate, rendering complete denture retention difficult. Mandibular implant overdentures are confirmed treatment modality to provide support and retention for the prosthesis. Yet, treatment concepts should be age-adequate and take into consideration a future decline and dependency of the patient. The course equally discusses strategies to accompany the onset of dependency and accompany the patient until late in life, to assure comfort, infection control and quality of life.

The topic this course covers are * Ageing and its impact on prosthodontic treatment concepts and denture design * The complete denture – conventional versus CAD/CAM * The implant-supported overdenture * The onset of dependency – concepts to accompany functional decline

Frauke MÜLLER is professor and chair for gerodontology and removable prosthodontics at the University Clinics of Dental Medicine at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. She received her dental degrees in Bonn, Germany and spend several years at the London Hospital Medical College, England. Frauke Müller has been President of various learned Societies, such as the European College of Gerodontology, the Geriatric Oral Research Group and the Prosthodontics Group of the IADR, the Swiss Society for Gerodontology and Special Care Dentistry. From 2018 to 2022 she served as President of the University Clinics of Dental Medicine at the University of Geneva. She co-edited the ITI Treatment Guide no 9 on “Implant therapy in the Geriatric Patient” and the 1st Edition of the textbook “Oral Healthcare and The Frail Elder”. She is Associate Editor of the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation and Gerodontology, and serves on the editorial review board of several other Journals. Frauke Müller is honorary member of the European College of Gerodontology, the British Society for the Study of Prosthetic Dentistry and the International Team of Implantology (ITI). Frauke Müller was awarded twice the IADR Distinguished Scientist Award, in 2013 in Geriatric Oral Research and in 2023 in Research in Prosthodontics and Implants. In 2019 she has received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Thessaloniki. Her research activity is mainly related to gerodontology, oral function as well as complete and implant prosthodontics.