AGE-RELATED CHANGES IN THE ORAL CAVITY AND SYSTEMIC HEALTH

Relevance. Human aging is a multifactorial process involving all organs and systems of the body. In recent years, human life expectancy has increased, but the functionally active portion of life has declined, resulting in an increase in chronic non-communicable diseases leading to death. Early diagnosis of age-associated changes will enable timely correction of the negative consequences of aging, improving quality of life. Oral changes accurately reflect the overall health of the body and are a priority for non-invasive diagnostics. Subject. The subject of this study is current data on the relationship between changes in the oral cavity during aging. Objective. To study, comprehensively analyze scientific literature, and summarize clinical and laboratory data to identify the earliest and most sensitive signs of aging associated with changes in oral health. Materials and Methods. A review of the scientific literature from 2016 to 2026 on clinical and laboratory signs of aging associated with changes in oral health was conducted using eLIBRARY, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. Results. Research into changes in oral health is a promising approach to monitoring aging processes due to its effectiveness, accessibility, and non-invasiveness. Conclusions: 1. Aging is accompanied by specific clinical and laboratory changes in the maxillofacial region. 2. Key clinical markers of aging include: xerostomia, increased tooth wear, changes in the optical properties of teeth, atrophic processes in the mucous membrane, and the development of ''cognitive-dental syndrome''. 3. The main laboratory indicators of aging are: a decrease in the biodiversity of the microbiome, suppression of local immune activity, detection of oxidative stress markers, and molecular and cellular disorders.