Dental Care for Seniors
Our doctors offer caring and compassionate dental treatment for seniors, and provide them with a wide range of procedures that keep their smiles healthy and functional in their later years. As we age, we become more susceptible to certain dental conditions, such as periodontal disease, dry mouth, and tooth loss. Dr. Donald Ross, Dr. David Kim and Dr. Neal Shah provide dental care for seniors at our Atlanta, GA, practice to meet the unique needs of our older patients. We also offer sedation options to help patients suffering from painful conditions like arthritis remain comfortable throughout their visit.
Common Conditions
Certain conditions can naturally develop due to aging. Older patients also tend to take more medications, which can produce side effects that impact your dental health.
Dry Mouth
While dry mouth does not occur as a direct result of aging, several medications taken by seniors list it as a prominent side effect. Patients who regularly take medications for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis, depression, or diseases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s may experience the effects of dry mouth. Patients with dry mouth experience a decrease in the flow of their saliva. The reduction in saliva caused by dry mouth can eventually lead to a higher rate of tooth decay.
Gum disease has become more and more prevalent among seniors, affecting over 25% of patients between the ages of 65 and 74.
Drs. Ross, Dr. Kim and Shah can recommend options to help our patients fight dry mouth, such as switching to an alcohol-free mouth wash, and they may also recommend talking to your general practitioner about possible changing your medication.
Gum Disease
Gum disease has become more and more prevalent among seniors, with over 25% of patients between the ages of 65 and 74 suffering from some form of the condition. Left untreated, gum disease can lead to tooth loss and cause the jawbone to recede. Doctors have linked gum disease to an increased risk of some other serious diseases as well, including heart attack, stroke, and diabetes.
Oral Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, the average age for patients to develop mouth, throat, or tongue cancer is 62. These cancers typically do not result in any pain during their early stages, making them difficult to detect with the untrained eye. During a regular dental exam, our doctors will perform a screening for oral cancer. By performing this screening, the doctors can detect signs of oral cancers in their earliest stages, when they are easier to treat.
Restoring Your Smile After Tooth Loss
Several factors related to aging can compromise the health of our teeth, eventually causing them to fall out or require extraction. Our doctors can restore your smile if you suffer from a single missing tooth, or dramatically improve your dental health and function with a full mouth reconstruction.
Reach Out to Our Office
Our doctors believe that everyone deserves good oral health, and that is it never too late to achieve a strong, healthy smile. Contact our office today to schedule your appointment and learn more.
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