The need for the incorporation of training in geriatrics and gerontology into basic medical and dental education has recently been recognized. Existing studies which attempt to measure the attitudes of medical and dental students toward the aged are extremely limited. As part of a larger study of attitudes and knowledge among 500 health workers, the attitudes and knowledge of over 275 dental and medical students are examined, at different stages in their professional education, using Rosencranz and McNevin's "Aging Semantic Differential" and Palmore's "Short Quiz on Facts on Aging." The course of medical and dental education displays no significant deterioration or improvement in attitudes toward the aged. Multivariate analysis reveals a complex relationship between knowledge and attitude scores. Preliminary findings suggest that technically oriented professional education may have little impact on student attitudes. (Author)