Albertville, AL
Keeping your teeth as long as possible is crucial to maintaining a high level of oral health, and optimal well-being. Living with missing teeth can cause your remaining teeth to become crooked. Over time, it can lead to additional tooth loss or supporting bone loss, while also making it more difficult to chew and making you feel self-conscious about your smile.
For senior citizens, maintaining a high level of oral health can be difficult. The American Dental Association estimates that one-fifth of Americans who are 75 and older have not seen a dentist in at least five years. Why are older patients so resistant? Some are afraid of the dentist, or fearful of returning after years of neglect. Other senior citizens no longer recognize the need for regular dental care because of cognitive decline. Many also lack the mobility or transportation to make it to the dentist. Senior citizens who have arthritis or who have had a stroke also may have difficulties performing oral hygiene at home.
Payment also can be a problem for older patients. Medicare does not cover routine dental care such as cleanings and examinations, and many senior citizens lose additional coverage from other insurance plans when they reach 65 years old or retire. Only 15 states provide comprehensive dental coverage to recipients of Medicaid, which provides medical coverage for low-income Americans.
Over time, poor oral hygiene and care can lead to infection, a complete inability to eat solid food, and a loss of dignity and self-esteem.
Dental practices can do their part by receiving special training to work with elderly patients. The American Dental Association now offers online courses to help with this training.
At Wall Street Dentistry, we can treat patients of any age, from infants to the elderly. If you are a senior citizen who has not seen the dentist lately, or you have an elderly member of your family and are concerned about his or her oral health, contact our office at (256) 878-0525 today.
Wall Street Dentistry provides total oral health care for patients in Albertville, Boaz, and Guntersville, Alabama.
