A graduate of Texas A&M University and the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Dr. Stuart Rimes, DDS, is a practicing prosthodontist in Sugar Land, Texas. In addition to dental school, he completed a three-yearstraining in the Prosthodontic Program at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, and earned a Masters of Biomedical Science in Prosthodontics at the University of Texas Health Science Center. Here, Rimes tells us why it’s important that older patients get to the dentist for regular checkups.
As far as older patients are concerned, there are a number of special considerations that they need to take into account when thinking about proper dental care. Due in part to the change in hormones that people experience as they age, and also to the additional medications that older patients are oftentimes on, there are some things that both patients and their dentists should watch out far.
As far as overall oral hygiene is concerned, the majority of older patients are still okay to just come in for an exam twice a year. However, during that check up, it is important that their dentist make sure they are not losing any bone attachments around their teeth.
A lot of times, older patients tend to be on more medications than the younger patients who come in. And many medications have the side effect of reducing the amount of saliva in people’s mouths. This reduced salivary flow can lead to a whole host of problems, including making the patient more prone to cavities and eventually the loss of teeth. That’s why it is so important that patients get regular checkups, especially as they are older or whenever they have been put on additional medications.
Hormones can change in the body as we get older, as well, and those changes can ultimately lead to other changes in patient’s teeth such as increased cavities.
As you get older, you’ll need additional ways to prevent the loss of those teeth, along with ways to replace the teeth once they are gone — both of which can he found by seeking treatment from a trained prosthodontist. When a patient gets older, that is where dental implants can come into play, too, because when you have implants, then you do not need to worry about cavities or dry mouth syndrome. So that is a major benefit for patients who have opted to go with dental implants rather than waiting for a major dental problem to occur before acting on a potential problem.
Finally, there is another thing that I personally have noticed about my older patients over the years, and that is that they tend to not come in as quickly after they suspect something is wrong. Although older patients do not necessarily need to come in for cleanings or check ups more frequently than anyone else, the main problem in that regard is that these are the same people who wait longer after a tooth begins hurting before coming in to the dentist or the prosthodontist as opposed to younger patients who are more likely to come in for attention and treatment right away.
Everyone deserves a healthy, bright smile no matter their age. But if you hope to keep your smile in the best shape it can be, visit the dentist regularly and not wait too long before coming in for check ups whether you are young or old.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
