Everyone should have the opportunity to keep and maintain a healthy smile for a lifetime. It used to be that losing your teeth was an expected part of growing old. Many of us will never know the pain of losing teeth or wearing dentures. More than 50% of the elderly today are living with their own teeth due to advances in dental medicine, improved procedures and personal hygiene. Although there are definite benefits to keeping your teeth, dental health successes come with new concerns and longevity issues which impact not only elderly patients but the dental profession.
1. The fabrication of dentures is down by 10% from the 1980’s. The decline does not appear to be associated with the elderly retaining their teeth. The most prominent reason for the decline appears to be the use of CAD/CAM and retiring technicians. There are fewer technicians being trained to replace the retiring lab technicians and owners.
2. Longevity places more demands on all parts of our body. We are aware of age related bone and muscular injuries but seldom do we hear about age related oral injuries. Tooth enamel degrades for years and now that our smiles are expected to last as long as their owner, the demands on teeth are greater.
3. Prescription drugs cause severe drying affects on the mouth causing tooth decay. If you are taking prescribed drugs, have a conversation with your dentist. Recognize to what degree prescriptions can ultimately alter your teeth and oral hygiene and understand ways to combat those affects.
4. Age can cause a reduction in saliva. Saliva reduction can upset the delicate balance that exists in the mouth, causing tooth decay. There are ways to combat dry mouth and maintain the balance of acids that are so important for your overall health.
5. Dentures never get gum disease or cavities. The elderly have other medical issues to worry exists in the mouth, causing tooth decay. There are ways to combat dry mouth and maintain the balance of acids that are so important for your overall health.
Dentists have the training and resources to review the whole patient when providing dental care, which is important because teeth can become a liability to the elderly patient and their overall well-being.
Providing extensive dental care for the elderly in declining age and health is very challenging for the dentist and sometimes impossible for the patient. For most cases, the dentist has the ability to avoid worst case scenarios as their patient’s health decline. It is never too early to discuss your dental future with your dentist. Keep smiling and talk to your Dentist today about the effects of aging on your teeth.
