There is a paucity of data describing the prevalence of systemic conditions and drug use in elderly dental patients. In this study, the charts of all patients, 65 years of age and older who were accepted for dental treatment at the University Dental Clinic in Saskatoon, Canada, during the period from January 1986 to April 1988 were reviewed. Data was obtained from a self-administered questionnaire and an oral history sheet. Cardiovascular diseases (27 per cent), orthopedic problems (24 per cent), and endocrine disorders (16 per cent), were the most commonly reported systemic conditions. Approximately 15 per cent of these patients were taking three or more medications at the time of examination. Dentists should be aware of alternate approaches for treating the medically compromised elderly patient. These findings emphasize the importance of obtaining an adequate drug history prior to commencing dental treatment. Guidelines are required to enable dental clinicians to make informed decisions, in order to provide the most appropriate therapy for this growing segment of our population.