Through biological, functional and psychosocial pathways that include inflammation, malnutrition and social isolation, oral health and disease contributes to systemic aging and frailty. Building on the concept of oral frailty, here we argue that validated oral health indicators — which are widely captured in aging surveys — should be integrated into multidimensional frailty frameworks to improve prediction, early intervention and holistic care for older adults.
- Vittorio Dibello
- Frank Lobbezoo
- Francesco Panza
