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Periodontal Disease And Older Adults

The proverbial way of referring to older people as being "long on the tooth" suggests that it is predetermined that as we get older our teeth get "longer" or "no longer." This is not true. Periodontal disease and loss of teeth is not an inevitable aspect of aging. Loss of attachment or bone support around a tooth is the result of a bacterial infection. What is true is that as we get older, we have more exposures to these infectious organisms, and more probability of being infected and developing periodontal disease. Half of the people over 55 have periodontal disease.

Risk factors that make older adults more susceptible to periodontal disease include:

Systemic diseases:

Certain systemic diseases such as diabetes may decrease the body's ability to fight infection and can result in more severe periodontal disease. Osteoporosis also can increase the amount and rate of bone loss around teeth. Systemic illnesses will affect periodontal disease if it is a pre-existing condition. To reduce the effects of systemic diseases on the oral cavity, maintain meticulous plaque control and visit your dental care provider routinely for examinations and professional cleanings.

Medications:

Heart medications can have a direct effect on the gums by creating an exaggerated response to plaque and resulting in gum overgrowth. Antidepressants may create dry mouth and reduce the saliva's ability to neutralize plaque. Immunosuppressants and other disease-fighting medications may reduce the body's ability to combat infection, increasing the risk for periodontal disease. The dental care provider needs to be aware of any medications you may be taking and you need to maintain meticulous plaque control and visit your dental care provider routinely for examinations and professional cleanings.

Dry mouth:

Lack of saliva can result from the use of certain medications or as a result of illness. If there is not enough saliva available to neutralize plaque it can result in more cavities and periodontal disease. Also, dry mouth, or xerostomia, can make dentures more difficult to wear and may also complicate eating, speaking, or swallowing of food. Oral rinses or artificial saliva can be very helpful with these problems. Frequent sips of water or eating candy may be helpful as long as it doesn't contain sugar. Fluoride rinses and gels are helpful in reducing or preventing the cavities that can be caused by having a dry mouth.

Dexterity problems:

Physical disabilities can reduce dexterity and the ability to remove plaque on a daily basis. Poor oral hygiene can increase the risk for cavities and periodontal disease. Electric toothbrushes and floss holders are helpful in improving plaque control. Frequent professional cleanings combined with oral anti-microbial or fluoride rinses also may be helpful in reducing the incidence of cavities and periodontal disease.

Estrogen deficiency:

Older women may have some special concerns in relation to periodontal disease. Scientific studies have suggested that the estrogen deficiency that occurs after menopause may increase the risk for severe periodontal disease and tooth loss. Estrogen replacement therapy may reverse these effects.

It is important to keep teeth as we age because every tooth has an important function in chewing and speaking. They affect our appearance and self esteem. Having dentures or loose or missing teeth can restrict our diets, resulting in poor nutrition and systemic complications. With the advances in modern dentistry and with current prevention and treatment techniques, we must count on keeping our teeth for a lifetime - no matter how "long" that may be!

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

New Complete Dentures

Every patient is eager to see what their new dentures (or false teeth) look like, and for good reason. But how can you judge if it's really going to be grand?

Coco Chanel, the world-renowned fashion designer, once said that if you notice a lady's clothes, she's poorly dressed; if you notice the lady instead, she's impeccably dressed. That same philosophy can help prosthodontics wearers to assess for themselves what looks right.

During the wax try-in appointment, when you're "fine-tuning" your replacement teeth, you may be tempted to peer at them while holding them in your hands, or evaluate what you see in the mirror through bifocals. While this "view" will give you an idea of the construction of your new denture, it's not how other people will see it.

What goes into creating good complete dentures?

Your prosthodontist can create a rugged or delicate, masculine or feminine, assertive or passive, youthful or mature look. Youthfulness can be achieved by a curved smile line, showing the two front teeth more than those on each side, and having a darker translucent edge on those front teeth. False teeth can be brought down where they are more visible and placed further forward to plump out a thin upper lip. If teeth are arranged evenly in a flat line, it makes a person look older.

Any of these qualities can be realized in a new denture, but they won't show while it is in your hand. A good denturist invests time and all his care to make your denture look best, in your mouth, where it belongs. Look at your dentures in the mirror from a conversational distance, while you talk or smile. And if your friends don't notice it, your prosthodontist has done a good job.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.