The dental specialism of managing the specific oral health care of elderly patients is known by which one of the following terms?

The dental specialism focused on the specific oral health care needs of elderly patients is known as gerodontics. This field addresses various aspects of dental care that are particularly relevant to older adults, including the prevention and treatment of age-related dental issues, the management of complex medical histories that may affect oral health, and the provision of restorative care tailored to this age group. Gerodontics ensures that treatments consider factors such as the effects of aging on oral health, the presence of multiple medical conditions, and the unique social and psychological aspects associated with caring for elderly patients.

The other options pertain to different specialisations within dentistry. Orthodontics focuses on the diagnosis, prevention, and correction of misaligned teeth and jaws, typically concerning children and adolescents. Paedodontics, or pediatric dentistry, specializes in the dental treatment and care of infants, children, and adolescents. Prosthodontics is concerned with the design, manufacture, and fitting of artificial replacements for teeth and other parts of the mouth, mainly for all age groups but does not specifically focus on elderly patients the way gerodontics does.