Ethical issues involved in providing dental care to geriatric patients have generally been ignored in the practice and academic literatures. Elderly patients require special ethical consideration because of increased burden of illness, sensory deficits which may interfere with symptom interpretation and communication, fiscal constraints and ageism among both providers and patients. A taxonomy of ethical issues is provided including issues pertaining to the patient, the family, service providers, and the health care system. Suggestions are made for improving decision making in geriatric dental care.
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