Due to age related changes to oral tissues in a patient over the age of 70, their dental treatment may be different in some aspects from those who are younger. What is this called?

• A. Orthodontics
• B. Gerontology
• C. Geriatrics
• D. Prosthodontics

Answer: (B)

The concept being tested is aging as a studied process. Gerontology is the field that investigates how aging affects the body, including oral tissues, and how this changes dental care needs for older adults. It covers the biological, social, and functional changes that occur with age, which helps explain why treatment for someone over 70 might differ from that for younger patients—things like thinner mucosa, reduced salivary flow, slower healing, and increased susceptibility to certain conditions.

Geriatrics, while closely related, refers to the medical care of older people rather than the study of aging itself. Orthodontics and prosthodontics are dental specialties focused on tooth movement and tooth replacement, respectively, not on the aging process. So the term that best matches the described concept is gerontology.