Table of contents
Why Dental Care Is Important for Seniors
Below are some of the reasons why we work hard to ensure that our older patients can enjoy optimal oral health.
- Good oral health is essential to help protect general health, particularly for anyone managing chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
- Maintaining good oral health helps prevent infection, pain, and tooth loss.
- Well-maintained teeth help enable more comfortable chewing and clear speech. This, in turn, can have a positive impact on social activities.
- The ability to eat comfortably is important as it can lead to improved nutrition, protecting general health, and enabling a better quality of life.
Common Dental Concerns Affecting Older Adults
Everybody is unique, but the following are some of the most common dental concerns we see affecting older adults more frequently than those in other age groups.
We also briefly explain some of the ways we can address these concerns with regular preventive dental care visits.
Gum Disease
Gum disease can affect anyone at any age, but it becomes more prevalent in older adults. It can cause gum recession, where the gums start to recede from the teeth. If allowed to progress, it can lead to tooth loss and potentially affect overall health.
Carefully monitoring your gum health during regular dental exams enables us to detect any changes promptly. Prompt treatment for gum disease can reverse this condition or prevent it from progressing, thereby stopping it before it causes tooth loss or impacts overall health.
Tooth Decay and Tooth Root Cavities
Tooth decay is a common issue, and cavities can develop in tooth roots that are exposed due to gum recession.
During your regular dental exams, we carefully inspect every tooth for signs of cavities and provide appropriate restorative treatment when needed. Usually, this will be a small filling, or we may recommend fluoride treatment to harden early signs of cavities.
Tooth Sensitivity
This is another issue that can occur at any age, but it is more likely to occur as you get older. As you age, your tooth enamel becomes thinner, increasing sensitivity to temperature changes.
Fluoride treatments can help reduce tooth sensitivity; alternatively, we may recommend other treatments, such as dental bonding, to cover signs of enamel erosion.
Missing Teeth
Missing teeth can affect your ability to chew food properly, which in turn can impact overall nutrition.
We offer a range of options for restoring missing teeth, including dental bridges, traditional dentures, and the latest dental implant treatments.
Loose Dentures
Dentures remain a popular choice for replacing missing teeth; however, they can become increasingly loose over time. After teeth are extracted, jawbone loss occurs as the bone is resorbed.
Loose dentures can sometimes be relined or may need to be replaced entirely. A popular alternative is to consider dental implants, which eliminate the need for a denture and replace it with a fixed bridge of teeth or an implant-supported denture that is held securely in place yet easy to remove for cleaning.
Oral Comfort
Dry mouth is a common problem and can be very uncomfortable, as inadequate saliva is produced. This issue is called xerostomia and is frequently a side effect of medications or medical treatments. Dry mouth can increase the risk of dental diseases since oral bacteria thrive in drier conditions.
We can help reduce the impact of dry mouth by prescribing artificial saliva substitutes and suggesting other ways to ensure your mouth feels moister and more comfortable.
We can discuss strategies to protect oral health, such as more frequent professional dental cleanings or using a fluoride mouthrinse at home.
Discoloured and Stained or Cracked Teeth
Teeth can become increasingly stained and discolored over time. This can be caused by thinner tooth enamel exposing more of the natural tooth color in the dentin underneath. It can also be due to lifestyle habits, for example, if you smoke or have a preference for highly coloured foods and beverages.
Understanding The Link between Oral and Overall Health
Maintaining good oral health is crucial throughout life, but older individuals may be more susceptible to health conditions that can impact dental health, and vice versa.
Respiratory Illnesses
Good oral hygiene can help protect against respiratory illnesses, such as pneumonia. Pneumonia can be caused by inhaling harmful bacteria that build up when good oral care is not maintained.
Diabetes
People with diabetes are more at risk of developing periodontal disease, a bacterial infection and inflammation that damages the gum and bone surrounding teeth.
The infection and inflammation cause bleeding gums, allowing bacteria to enter the bloodstream. These bacteria can cause new sites of inflammation, making it more difficult for people with diabetes to control their blood sugar levels.
A well-balanced diet is essential for people with diabetes, and having teeth that feel painful or loose due to gum disease can make it tricky to eat properly. Without good nutrition, diabetes can be harder to control.
Heart Attack and Stroke
The bacteria that cause periodontal disease can increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke when they enter the bloodstream through bleeding gums. The toxins released by these bacteria are thought to damage the heart tissues.
Lower Quality of Life
Poor oral health and problems like missing teeth or issues with eating comfortably can reduce self-esteem and self-confidence. It can make it harder to enjoy social interactions, generally leading to a lower quality of life.
Tailored Dental Services for Seniors
Everyone visiting the NYC Dentistry Center receives a custom treatment plan, which is continually reviewed and adjusted to accommodate different life stages.
Preventive Professional Dentistry Plans for Seniors
Your preventive dental care plan is adjusted continuously to accommodate any changes to your oral health. However, it will still include:
- Regular exams and hygiene appointments.
- Oral cancer screenings.
- Other preventive treatments we feel may help, such as fluoride applications.
Oral Hygiene Help and Advice
We also continue to emphasize the importance of your oral care at home. Some older people may find that looking after their teeth and gums becomes more challenging if they face dexterity issues due to arthritis or other health concerns.
In this case, we can help by suggesting alternative tools that are easier to manipulate and ensuring you use the right techniques to maintain healthy teeth and gums. For example, electric toothbrushes are easy to hold and manipulate, and a Waterpik makes flossing easier and more effective.
Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dental care services can help your teeth remain healthy and strong for longer or replace those that are missing. We offer a complete range of restorative dental services, including:
- Crowns and bridges.
- Tooth coloured fillings.
- Dental implants and implant-supported dentures.
- Partial and full dentures.
- Denture repairs and relines.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry can help improve the appearance of stained and discolored teeth, as well as teeth that are worn, chipped, or otherwise damaged. We can discuss the following treatments, including:
- Teeth whitening treatments.
- Veneers.
- Comprehensive smile makeovers, helping to maximize your enjoyment of your golden years.
Protecting Your General Health
When you visit our dental practice for a dental exam, we will want to discuss your general health carefully. We need to know about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medications.
We must also be aware of any medical conditions, as certain conditions may impact the treatment we offer or recommend. Sometimes, we may need to liaise with healthcare providers to ensure that your dental care does not interfere with your overall health.
Everyone who visits our practice, regardless of age, receives respectful and compassionate dental care. We want you to enjoy all the benefits of a healthy mouth for life.
FAQs
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Is Dental Care Safe for Seniors with Health Conditions?
Yes, as we always carefully assess your medical health to ensure that every treatment we recommend is safe. If necessary, we will liaise with other healthcare providers to ensure you receive the very best dental care tailored to your needs. Leaving dental problems untreated can be far more harmful, as they can negatively impact overall health.
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Can Seniors Have Dental Implants?
Yes, and dental implants can be a great choice for seniors with reasonable general health. There are multiple options available, including replacing traditional dentures with a fixed dental bridge.
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Can Seniors Have Orthodontics?
Yes, if you have reasonably strong teeth, braces may be a viable option. Removable orthodontic systems, such as Invisalign, are especially suitable for seniors with busy lives who are seeking a discreet solution. Orthodontics can also be provided as part of a more comprehensive smile makeover plan.
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How Often Should Older Adults Visit the Dentist?
Generally, most people need to visit the dentist every six months for a dental examination and a hygiene appointment. However, if you have any oral issues, take certain medications, or have immune system-related concerns, we may recommend more frequent checkups or dental cleanings. We can discuss the frequency during your initial dental exam.
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Do I Still Need Dental Checkups If I Have Full Dentures?
Yes, during your dental exam, we will check the condition of your gums and conduct an oral cancer screening, which is extremely important. We can also assess the condition of your denture to ensure it fits reasonably comfortably, and reline or remake it as necessary.
NYC Dentistry Center6 E 45th Street, 8th Floor, Suite 2
New York, NY 10017
(212) 810-9264