Spectrum of care treatment planning: application of the model in older adults.

A model for treatment planning is presented to help emphasize the most important elements of the clinical decision-making process for older adult patients. The patient's concerns and needs in the domains of function, symptoms, pathology, and esthetics are the central elements of the process. With sophisticated assessment methods and creative interventions, the dentist can work with each patient to identify and successfully address his or her needs and concerns. This model is applied to two clinical cases which illustrate the importance of considering innovative treatment plans, even when the patient is advanced in years.