Geriatric Dentistry as the name suggests, is dealing woth dental problems related to Senior Citizens . As age advances there are plenty of changes that take place in the body with the oral cavity and teeth behaving no differently.
Very often, I see plenty of senior patients leading a compromised life; Dietary restrictions thanks to losing some teeth, results in not being able to eat, besides causing discomfort. I seriously believe life begins after 60 and my patients should have the option of eating, drinking, and making merry without any compromise!
Today, I’m going to be listing a few problems associated with geriatric patients and provide my readers with simple solutions that can make life easy.
The most common problem seen is missing teeth. Missing teeth can be for various reasons which include neglect, gum diseases, canker sores which may need canker sore laser treatment, poor bone support for the teeth, and severely damaged teeth caused by wear and tear over time. This can be caused also because of badly decayed teeth which may be difficult to save.
Once the tooth is lost, the patient does very little to replace or restore them for various reasons. The most common of all reasons being fear of the dentist and /or certain medical conditions like diabetes and blood pressure. Impediments like expensive dental treatment options and poor bone condition add to this. Fear of the dentist is one of the most common reasons why people struggle to keep up with their regular appointments. When it comes to missing teeth, it’s quite important that you visit your dentist as this can cause gum disease. If you’re worried about visiting the dentist, why not look at the different options in you area. This might make the experience much easier for you, making sure that your missing tooth is replaced as efficiently as possible with no pain.
Multiple Missing Teeth :
In situations where there are multiple missing teeth, implants is a great option. There’s no need to be embarrassed by your smile because of missing teeth. Simply get in contact with an implant dentist, like Flatrock Family Dentistry, who can provide this tooth-replacement treatment and put a smile back on your face. Occasionally, implants can end up being very expensive. For such situations, we have some really inexpensive options like Overdentures that can make the treatment cost negligible, and also ensure a good quality of life.
What is an Overdenture ?
When the jaws are left with very few teeth, or hardly any teeth, the jaw bone starts to resorb and become thinner. Very often, trying to support a denture on this thin bone becomes a problem, as the patient is unable to hold the denture in place and eat using it. To hold this denture in place comfortably, it needs support .This support is provided in the form of two implants; One on either side of the jaw. The denture then fits onto this implant and does not move. Eating with this denture now becomes very comfortable, as there is no movement involved .
What Does The Treatment Involve ?
The treatment protocol is really simple and pain free. All the extractions are done and the gum and bone are allowed to heal. Two implants are placed in the jaw bone and this surgery takes about an hour .The implants are then allowed to heal for a period of 3 months. New dentures are made after 3 months and are supported by these two implants.
This combination of a denture and two implants is called an overdenture.
It makes treatment very inexpensive and the patients is extremely comfortable eating and chewing. The value addition to the quality of life is tremendous, and we have some really happy patients. However, sometimes this treatment is not suitable for everyone and they may want to visit somewhere like https://www.gumsurgery.com/laser-gum-surgery/laser-gum-treatment/ to learn more about other gum surgery options.
Do’s and Dont’s For Ovedenture
It’s imperative to remove these dentures at night and soak them in water like conventional dentures.They need to be kept clean with a normal tooth brush and water
It’s a good idea to remove the denture and wash it after meals to avoid food lodgement under the denture.A routine check of the denture once is 6 months is a must .With just this one simple solution life can be made a lot more fun ! So if you’ve been ignoring that and avoiding those missing teeth and compromising with your eating. gift yourself a new Overdenture this Christmas season, and watch life turn around 🙂
Wish you all a great festive season!
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