Oral rehabilitation of the frail elder

Oral rehabilitative care covers a wide scope of clinical procedures, ranging from endodontics and restoration of individual teeth to replacement of some or all natural teeth. Endodontic and prosthodontic techniques are very sophisticated but they can be demanding of the patient's tolerance for surgical interventions, and the clinician's skills and control of appropriate biomaterials. However, the results from technical skills alone are often unpredictable and occasionally dangerous when compounded by the multimorbidity and polypharmacy associated with frailty. This chapter proposes a conservative or minimalist concept of care based on the principles of “appropriatech” and “propensity” for treatment that matches clinical techniques and materials with the resources and resilience of the older person.