Tualatin General Dentistry For Seniors

Common Dental Issues Facing Seniors

As you grow old, you may face challenges in maintaining proper dental care. This is because aging makes you more susceptible to a variety of oral health problems. However, dental health among seniors has greatly improved in recent years. Advanced dentistry makes it possible to address and prevent elderly dental problems effectively. 

Good senior dental care may help prevent common problems, like toothaches, gum disease, and tooth loss. Healthy teeth also help older adults enjoy food and eat better. Yet access to senior dental care continues to be a problem in the U.S. Dental care benefits cease upon retirement and routine dental care is not covered by Medicare. Lack of transportation, age-related memory loss, other cognitive problems, and physical disabilities may also lead to missed dentist appointments and poor dental health for seniors. At Jordan Weber Dental in Tualatin, we can help! We offer dental services tailored to seniors in Tualatin, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Wilsonville, and surrounding areas. 

If you’re a senior and looking for specialized dental care, you’ve come to the right place. We offer examinations and treatments that are specifically tailored to the questions and concerns of patients in your age group. Doctors Bill Jordan and Heather Weber of Jordan Weber Dental in Tualatin are very experienced at addressing seniors’ needs, from dry mouth and tooth loss, to the effect of diet and medication on your teeth.  

Aging puts many older adults at risk for several oral health problems including:

• Gum Disease (Periodontitis): Gum disease in the elderly and others is generally caused by inflammation. Gum disease (Periodontitis) is an infection that damages the tissue surrounding the gum. Gum disease is associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. It can also result in bone loss.
• Gum Recession (Gingival): Gum recession is a very common issue for seniors. Gingival (gum) recession is a condition that exposes the tooth’s root. Since the root is ten times more susceptible to breakdown from the acidic diet, the teeth are quickly damaged.
• Tooth or Crown Loss: Inflammation causes premature tooth loss, requiring dentures as a form of teeth replacement for the elderly. An implant can support the denture; without the dental implant, the denture can be loose at times, making it difficult to chew, which can interfere with speech and aesthetics. Many older patients have problems with the crowns or other dental work that they had received in previous years as well. 
• Dry Mouth: The senior population, those aged 65 years and older, make up 15% of the U.S. population but use 40% of all prescription drugs. People aged 65-69 years fill an average of 14 prescriptions per year, and adults aged 80-84 years average 18 prescriptions per year for medical conditions like heart disease or blood pressure. One of the most common side effects of almost all medications is dry mouth. Dry Mouth results in a decrease of saliva flow. The saliva acts as a buffer that coats the tooth and provides physical cleansing on the tooth.
• Tooth Decay: The decrease in saliva flow causes cavities and rampant tooth decay, especially on the exposed root surface and causes pain. Aging teeth and gums are also more susceptible to teeth fractures and structural breakdown.
• Oral Cancer: The chance of oral cancer increases with age. People who smoke or drink alcohol frequently are at higher risk. It is worthwhile to have the dentist check out any persistent sores, ulcers, or color changes in the tissue in and around your mouth. Early identification could save your life, so regular dental examinations are important to ensure that the gums and surrounding tissue are as healthy as possible.

Jordan Weber Dental in Tualatin offers a variety of dental services especially for seniors. Exceptional care is our number one priority at Jordan Weber Dental. We love what we do and we are passionate about people and taking great care of them. We offer flexible financing plans and accept most senior citizen dental insurance. 

Call us today at (503)-692-6535 for more information about senior dental care or to schedule an appointment with our experienced dentists.