Aging brings health changes, and that extends to oral health, too. Learn how your dental care needs change with aging and how we at Weninger Dentistry are committed to helping older adults protect their oral health.
What Changes With Your Oral Health as You Mature
Aging brings health changes, thus many older adults take medication to manage chronic conditions. Unfortunately, many of these medications have the side effect of causing dry mouth, which is a lack of saliva in the mouth. Symptoms include thirst, discomfort, and chapped lips.
Since saliva plays an important role in reducing oral bacteria, dry mouth can lead to other oral health problems, notably gum disease and tooth decay.
Gum recession is also common with aging, a natural side effect of years of tooth brushing. Both gum disease and gum recession can lead to tooth loss without preventative care.
Older adults often receive dental benefits as part of an employer health care package. When they retire, they lose access to these benefits. Given that Medicare only covers medically necessary dental expenses, many older adults go without dental care – which leads to greater tooth decay, pain, and discomfort.
What is Elderly Dental Care?
Elderly dental care focuses on maintaining tooth and gum health, cleaning plaque and tartar, and reducing dry mouth and other uncomfortable symptoms. If you have dental implants, such as bridges or crowns, our dentist will make sure your implants are in good condition.
With elderly patients, our dentistry team examines the health of teeth and gums and checks for signs of oral cancer, which benefits from early detection.
We are pleased to offer a pioneering new treatment for gum recession, which is known as the Chao Pinhole treatment. To prevent or reverse gum disease, we can provide effective treatment in our office or recommend at-home treatment if your case is mild. Our dentists are always happy to discuss lifestyle changes that can protect your teeth and gums, demonstrate proper brushing and flossing technique, and do anything we can to help you take care of your oral health at every age.
If you have cracked or lost teeth, we offer a range of cosmetic dentistry options to restore the integrity of your smile, such as bridges or dentures. We’ll talk you through all of the options and help you select the best dental treatment for your needs.
Trust in Weninger Dentistry
Weninger Dentistry is here for the oral health needs of Tampa area seniors. We welcome older adults, and we even offer a senior discount of 10 percent off services for any elder who doesn’t have dental benefits. Financing options, including pre-payment plans and CareCredit, are available to help those who do not have dental insurance access needed oral health services.
Don’t delay when it comes to your oral health. Make an appointment today to take care of your teeth, your smile, and your overall wellness. Call 813-872-7057 today to reserve your appointment for senior dental care.