As we age, our dental needs change. Enamel wears thin, gums recede, and we need a dentist for seniors – a dentist who knows how to treat patients who have age-specific dental health needs.
Proper Dental Care
Proper dental care is vital for older patients.
We all know that seniors need special care – regular doctor appointments are necessary to ensure the best health possible, and medical care for seniors usually focuses on the body’s vital functions. Too often, dental health is pushed to the wayside.
It’s understandable. After all, older adults and their loved ones are often dealing with fixed incomes and an array of health needs, including a host of medications and regular check-ups with doctors and specialists.
But dental health is vital to a person’s overall good health, especially for seniors. Healthy teeth and gums contribute to one’s ability to speak, enjoy food and conversation, and to facilitate digestion and the distribution of nutrients throughout the body. These functions are especially imperative for the older adult.
It is common or people over 50 to have periodontal (gum) disease and tooth decay (cavities). Studies show that 25% of Americans over the age of 65 have lost all their teeth. But tooth loss can be prevented with proper dental care and regular visits to the dentist.
Put simply, the older you get, the more important dental health becomes. That’s why it’s crucial for older adults to seek the right dentist.
Dentist for Seniors
A dentist for seniors specializes in the changing needs of an aging adult.
As we get older, we usually need to take more medications. These may help control or balance cholesterol, blood pressure, or the heart. Medicine also helps older adults manage arthritis and digestive problems.
It’s imperative that a dentist understands medications that are commonly used for health issues that affect seniors. Various medications can cause conflicts if the dentist isn’t prepared and knowledgeable about the interactive effects of medications used in dentistry combined with medications frequently used by aging adults. Many medications also cause chronic dry mouth (xerostomia) that can lead to rapidly progressing tooth decay if not treated promptly.
In addition to understanding medications, a dentist for seniors will be aware of other common challenges that seniors face. Stiff muscles make lying in the dentist’s chair uncomfortable. Many seniors have limited mobility, making it hard for them to get to the dentist’s office and into the chair. Some struggle with diseases that affect aging adults, such as Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia.
A dentist for seniors is sensitive to the wide range of challenges that aging adults are facing and works closely with patients to ensure the best dental health and the best care possible. That includes sensitivity to a patient’s age-specific needs.
Dentist for Elderly Patients
Providing dental care for elderly patients is our specialty.
As we get older, we need a dentist that specializes in the ever-changing needs of the human body, and it’s essential that we include dental health in our overall health care regimen. For seniors, proper dental care is more important than ever, since the health of our teeth and gums affects the health of our entire bodies.
Here at the Blende Dental Group, we work with a wide range of special needs patients. To speak with a patient care coordinator or to schedule an appointment with a dentist for seniors, please call 1.800.575.3375.