Ah, the golden years. Time to enjoy life and engage in your favorite pastimes such as reading, golf, cooking and travel. All the things that bring a happy smile to your face. At Pasadena Family Dentistry in Pasadena, TX, Drs. Holmes and Revel and the entire team want to make sure our senior patients not only have happy smiles, but healthy ones, too.
The natural aging process takes a toll on a person’s teeth just as it does other parts of the body. In addition, elderly citizen may have other health concerns that affect their ability to care for their, such as arthritis and other conditions that may limit movement. Then there are illnesses and diseases that require treatments or medication that can impact oral health. For example, certain types of chemotherapy or radiation for cancer can be harmful to teeth.
At Pasadena Family Dentistry, we understand the difficulties that can develop with age, so we treat seniors with an extra dose of compassion and concern. Most importantly, we don’t want this to be a time when our patients neglect their oral health. To the contrary, we want to help you maintain your oral health, overall well-being and beautiful smile for many, many years.
With this in mind, Drs. Holmes and Revel encourage patients to maintain their biannual dental checkup schedule. These appointments allow us to carefully monitor your oral health in addition to providing a professional cleaning. For many seniors, effective tooth brushing and flossing become difficult because of physical limitations. In this case, a dental cleaning is all the more important. And we may be able to recommend an appliance such as a battery-operated toothbrush that can help with daily hygiene.
Senior Dental Care with the Pasadena Dentist
Among senior patients, worn teeth are not uncommon. To prevent tooth loss, Dr. Holmes or Dr. Revel may recommend a porcelain crown. A crown, also called a dental cap, fully encapsulated a tooth to preserve the tooth and restore strength and function. As conservative dentists, we strive to help our patients retain their natural teeth as much as possible.
Of course, there are instances when a tooth must be removed because of injury, decay or disease. Although this is an option of last resort, it is sometimes necessary. To replace missing teeth in seniors, Pasadena Family Dentistry offers a number of viable options, including:
- Dental implants
- Dentures
- Partial dentures
- Fixed bridges
Another frequent oral health problem many senior citizens must contend with is dry mouth, a condition that can be caused by certain medications. In addition, seniors are more prone to gum disease, because they might be unable to maintain an effective at-home oral hygiene routine.
Contact Our Office Today
If you are a senior citizen, or if you know a senior citizen, and you’re looking for a dental practice that specializes in elderly dental care, then call Pasadena Family Dentistry. Our Pasadena, TX, dental practice welcomes patients form nearby South Houston, La Porte, Deer Park, Channelview, Clear Lake, and beyond.