The number of elderly people in the Dutch society is increasing. As a result their number will grow in any dental practice. More elderly people keep (at least part of) their own dentition which requires pro-active oral health care. Ageing is associated with a greater prevalence of chronic diseases and disability. General self-care might decrease when frailty comes. As a consequence, problems with oral self-care will occur. Dental general practitioners have a responsibility to provide adequate oral care for their elderly patients. Information on their general medical conditions and the efffects these might have on their oral health should be collected for individual oral health care programmes. Preventive and individual oral care programmes are recommended.