Aging patternshow dentistry changes over decades.
Aging patterns explain how teeth, bone, and prior dental work change over time — often quietly. Within the Structural Decision Framework (SDF), aging is not “background.” It changes structure, force tolerance, timing windows, and long-term stability.
- Teeth become thinner, not stronger.
- Microfractures accumulate quietly and then show up “suddenly.”
- Old restorations change load pathways and create stress risers at margins.
- Bone is always remodeling, especially after extractions or long-term missing teeth.
- Force patterns drift when molars are lost, often pushing load forward to the front teeth.
Aging doesn’t just raise risk. It narrows options. The same cavity, crack, or worn edge can behave very differently depending on remaining structure, force direction, and how much fatigue has already accumulated. In SDF, we treat aging as a first-class variable because it changes predictability and the timing window for preserving long-term stability.
These scenarios apply aging patterns to real decisions — where options narrow, risk changes, and timing becomes the difference between preservation and damage control.