Due to progress in the social sphere, the development of medicine, as well as the widespread availability of medicines and innovative technologies, the average life expectancy in the world has increased significantly. With age, there are changes in the entire body that are reflected in the oral cavity: decreased tissue elasticity, decreased muscle tone, and degenerative changes in hard and soft structures. Periodontitis is considered as the main age-associated disease of the oral cavity and the main cause of tooth loss in the adult population of the planet. The study of the fundamental mechanisms of periodontal aging is an extremely urgent task of modern gerontostomatology.
OBJECTIVE
To summarize the available scientific data on the aging of periodontal tissues.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A systematic review of the literature data was conducted, and 5897 publications were found in international electronic databases: PubMed, Cochrane, Google Search, Ebsco, Embase, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SciELO, and eLibrary from 2000 to 2025. The methodology of this study meets the requirements for PRISMA systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
RESULTS
Based on the selection criteria, 94 publications were selected, which included the results of studies of human aging, aging of organs and tissues of the oral cavity, aging of periodontal tissues, mechanisms of periodontal aging, the molecular basis of aging of tissues and organs, changes in individual tissues and organs during aging, the effects of drugs on aging, the influence of external factors on aging.
CONCLUSION
In the context of global demographic aging, the problem of maintaining oral health among the elderly is becoming particularly important. The presented detailed systematic analysis showed that periodontal aging is a complex biological process reflecting changes in the body, including both general and tissue-specific factors. Behavioral factors such as smoking and stress affect the rate of periodontal aging.