Life cycle phases: Literature review and new classification proposal for application in healthcare

INTRODUCTION: Although uncommon in dentistry, the concept of the life cycle holds great importance for dental professionals in identifying crucial intervention opportunities and determining the optimal timing for treatments and procedures. OBJECTIVE: To carry out a review of the literature on life cycle classifications and their distinct phases, evaluating their applicability in healthcare. METHODS: A literature review was performed, searching for articles in PubMed, SciELO, National Health Library (BvB), and Google Scholar databases, as well as relevant books. The keywords “life cycle,” “life stages,” “human development,” “age groups,” and “biological age” were used. Relevant articles were selected by analyzing their titles and abstracts, and read in full to confirm their inclusion in the research. RESULTS: Nine distinct life cycle classifications were found, each with unique criteria. CONCLUSION: Based on the comprehensive literature review, a novel classification was proposed (The 10-phase Life Cycle), which encompasses dental, growth, physiological aging, sociocultural, and behavioral characteristics, aiming to enhance communication among healthcare professionals, particularly those engaged in the growth, development, and aging processes of human beings.