As people get older, their dental needs change. Dentists that are used to working on young patients may not have as much experience dealing with the dental issues faced by older adults like the ones living in the Benchmark and Sunrise senior living centers in Leominster. Older adults that live in Leominster go to Sterling Dental Group because they trust the knowledge of the dentists when it comes to specific dental care for seniors. It helps that the dental office is only minutes away from Leominster. Here are some considerations that the dentists at Sterling Dental Group account for when working with older patients.
The impact of taking multiple medications on oral health
Seniors, like the ones living at Sunrise and Benchmark in Leominster, often have to take more medications than younger people. Studies have shown that the reactions of some of these drugs could contribute to a negative oral health outcome. As dentists who work with elderly patients, the team at Sterling Dental Group will be aware of situations such of these and recommend the appropriate dental intervention to prevent oral health from deteriorating as a result of medications.
Increased prevalence of gum disease in elderly people
A study has found that 68% of those aged 65 and older have gum disease. A dentist that regularly deals with elderly patients will be on the alert for signs of gum disease and recommend intervention as soon as they see anything. The dentists at Sterling Dental Group partner with gum specialists in Worcester to ensure optimal gum health for their patients.
Increased prevalence of oral cancer
The CDC reports that 78.6% or oral cancer cases are diagnosed in people who are aged 55 and above. A dentist that works with elderly people will be aware of this and have increased vigilance for signs of oral cancer. A dentist may recommend an oral cancer screening in order to keep a lookout for it.
Dealing with tooth loss as an older adults
As people get older they tend to start losing some of their teeth though natural causes unrelated to physical dental trauma. The dentists at Sterling Dental Group are trained to think holistically and comprehensively about dental treatment places for patients who have lost a tooth. This means that if the dentist recommends placing a dental implant it’s with consideration of any other teeth that may fall out in the near future and how the dental implant will behave in the future state of the mouth.
If you are an older adult that lives in Leominster or are caring for someone at Benchmark, Sunrise, or other senior living centers we urge you to book a consultation at Sterling Dental Group. Meet with the dentist and see if they understand your dental needs as an elderly patient.
