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This article has focused on the various aspects of patient evaluation that is a vital component in the total care of the dental patient. It must be emphasized that dentists are ultimately responsible for the overall management of the patients that they are treating, and only by careful selection and treatment plan can the practitioner maximize the benefits while minimizing the dangers inherent in outpatient anesthesia.

The demographic reality of a rapidly growing elderly population segment presents the practicing dentist with certain imperatives and challenges. Familiarity with the healthy aging process and common medical conditions of the aged is becoming increasingly essential. Customized treatment plans and modifications in techniques and home care aids require flexibility and creativity. In addition, it should not be overlooked that this demographic reality also presents the practicing dentist with new opportunities for practice-building as well as personal and professional satisfaction.