Senior citizens need to see an oral care provider more than anybody else. Senescence brings about a lot of oral health issues, the most common of which are gum sensitivity and tooth loss. These dental visits shall have the objective of drafting a comprehensive dental plan to deter the oral health problems that come with old age. The plan might consist of a prescription for gum sensitivity toothpaste, general check-ups, supplements, or even getting fitted for dentures.
In a year, a senior must visit the dentist at least twice, like normal people. Dental checkups can be made both at stationary clinics and mobile dentistry clinics. For seniors with evident oral health problems, it is advisable to visit more often to attain the appropriate dental care. Such problems may include gum disease and repetitive teeth decay.
Even at the instance that a senior already has a full set of dentures and zero teeth, it is still important to drop by for oral consultations. The dentures can get damaged and must be reevaluated. There could also be refittings and adjustments that should be done. In this instance, the saying “don’t wait until it hurts” is really applicable. Regular checkups are important because this proactive measure can preempt diseases from worsening.
In terms of fluoride treatments, there is a popular belief that it is unnecessary for seniors because insurance coverage for this treatment stops at the age of 14. However, fluoride treatments have no specific age group that it caters to and it is a case-to-case basis. As a senior, your crowns may have leaky margins and your teeth may have been eroded, hence resulting in teeth sensitivity. In that case, a fluoride treatment is highly recommended as it will strengthen your teeth, make it resistant to decay, and lessen the sensitivity to extreme temperatures.
Another common oral health problem among seniors is root decay. As suggested by the name, the roots of the teeth are decaying which can cause pain, bacterial growth, and proliferation of necrotic tissue in the gums. The ideal solution for this is a root canal.
Overall, you cannot necessarily diagnose yourself if you are not an oral health care professional. As soon as you feel any sort of pain, set up an appointment to get it diagnosed. Being preemptive is very important to prevent the problem from exacerbating. Conversely, a reactive response has the potential to compromise your oral health even further.