Seniors and Cosmetic Oral Care: Why It Matters

As we age, our bodies tend to come with an ever-growing set of health concerns. Aging impacts our dental health in numerous ways, but the idea that tooth loss is simply a natural part of aging comes with a lot of bad misconceptions attached to it. While we can’t avoid many problems as we age, some problems can be avoided, especially if we help reinforce preventative measures beforehand. But for those with already progressing health problems, getting cosmetic dental treatment can help you retain your health for years to come. With the help of your dentist, you have many options available to you with the help of cosmetic dental treatments. 

How Age-Related Oral Health Problems Can Be Prevented

Many studies go into the nature of how our oral health problems increase as we age. Within these studies, they often refer to the impact that decreasing hormones have on the immune system, how nutritional deficiencies can lead to bone deficiencies, and how oral bacteria can increase in the elderly due to aspects related to memory, cognition, and poor oral care. To combat these issues, many dentists work to provide resources for their patients to help prevent the onset of these problems from either arriving or becoming worse in the future. 

As simple as the solution may sound, poor oral health often also occurs to a lack of access to those vital resources, as there are many financial, environmental, and biological factors that affect the aging process and, in turn, our oral health. These factors include genetics determining health concerns such as enamel strength and root development, environmental factors such as smoking, drinking, poor diets, and lack of exercise, and most of all, financial concerns that determine the development of these conditions, such as dental insurance costs, treatment costs, and lower incomes. 

However, without addressing your oral health now, the conditions you face can become worse, leading to problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, dry mouth, and eventual tooth loss. Cosmetic treatments can help place a priority on those aging about their dental health and help prevent those problems from becoming worse. 

Types of Cosmetic Dental Treatments For Seniors

Cosmetic dental treatments can help tackle these issues early on before they become worse and can improve one’s physical, mental, and emotional health. Some treatments seniors can use to improve their oral health include: 

• Cosmetic Bonding: Cosmetic bonding help reshape the tooth back to health and help protect weakened enamel from decay.
• Porcelain Veneers: Porcelain veneers offer a protective cover for the front teeth, improving the tooth’s shape and color tooth while also filling in gaps, creating a fuller smile,
• Dental Bridges: Dental bridges can be used to fill up the missing space and is especially useful for those who don’t want extensive, invasive work done. 
• Dental Implants: Seniors with healthy bone health can use implants to replace missing teeth and maintain their jawbone health. 

Better access to oral health care must be possible for seniors. If you or a loved one needs oral care, make sure to schedule an appointment with your local dentist to learn more.

Our primary teeth may be temporary visitors during our developmental ages. Even so, they’re an integral part of growing up. Dentists take great pains to ensure they remain strong and healthy until they fall out independently. When necessary, they’ll even go so far as to use pediatric crowns to ensure they remain in place for the duration. Many parents are surprised that this degree of dental work will be invested in a temporary tooth. However, our jaws may not develop appropriately without preserving their position and health. This underdevelopment can result in inadequate space for the adult teeth or their coming in improperly aligned. These malocclusions can be the cause of expensive orthodontic treatments later in life.

Ensure Proper Development With Pediatric Crowns

If your child has tooth decay, your dentist may approach you about protecting your child’s teeth with pediatric crowns. A crown is a form of dental prosthetic used to restore form and function. This can be necessary if tooth decay has caused the tooth to begin to break down. Your dentist may also suggest them to help address injury to the tooth from trauma. The need for these restorations is rooted in the fundamental interconnectedness of our oral health. Each component contributes to every other component. Our primary teeth ensure that our jawbones develop with sufficient space for our adult teeth. Our gums ensure that the jawbone and teeth get sufficient nutrients and serve to protect the delicate roots. 

The process is straightforward when it comes time for your child to get dental crowns. The following steps are involved in the placement of dental crowns.

• Preparation – Before your child can receive a pediatric crown, the target tooth needs to be prepared to receive it. This means removing all the existing decay, cleaning the surface, and pitting it so it can easily accept the restoration. The dental laser remains the preferred tool for this stage of the process.
• Impressions – After removing all the decay and the site being sanitized, your dentist will take an impression of your child’s teeth. The most common method involves a special tray that is placed over the target area. It’s filled with a gel that will take the form of your child’s teeth and harden once removed. The result is a precise recreation of the treatment site.
• Temporary Crown – Many modern dental clinics have a milling machine they can use to produce permanent restoration. When this tool isn’t available, the impression will be sent to a dental lab. Until it is returned to the clinic, your dentist will fit a temporary crown in place to protect the tooth.
• Permanent Crown – When a temporary crown has been placed, it will need to be removed at this stage. The permanent crown is then placed, restoring your child’s smile.

Once this treatment process is completed, your dentist will have thoroughly restored your child’s tooth. This restoration ensures that your child’s oral cavity will continue to develop in a normal and healthy way.

Ask Your Dental Provider For More Guidance

Our dental providers make patient education a cornerstone of their practice. Speaking with them provides a significant opportunity for them to share helpful information about your oral health care. They’ll help you understand the potential long-term consequences of damage or decay to your child’s dental health. They’ll also help you take steps to preserve it.