Ageing: The Emerging Area of Bio-gerontology- A Review

Ageing is linked to a progressive loss of physical function and fitness, imperfect maintenance and repair systems. Many theories, such as evolutionary (mutations), telomere shortening, linked to a system (neuroendocrinologic, immunologic) appear to be the molecular and cellular hallmarks of ageing. The ultimate causes of ageing remain not yet elucidated, but they seem to be multifactorial. However, the consequences of ageing are better identified and leading to adapted gerodontologic therapies. Geroscience involves mostly all oral pathologies, focusing on endocrine and infectious disorders of periodontal diseases, involving the dental pulp and carious lesions, syndromes (e.g. trisomy 21 syndrome), salivary dysfunctions, burning mouth syndrome and tumor pathogenesis. With the increasing number of patients over 80+, gerodontology pave the way for a domain oriented toward therapeutic dentistry, leading to an extended lifespan. The future of ageing therapies involves selective elimination of senescent cells (SNSs), also known as senolysis, which prevents various age-related diseases. Most pathologies are implicated on the effects of ageing without exerting undesirable side effects.