Geriatric oral care involves the delivery of oral care to older adults involving diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of problems associated with age-related diseases. Oral health is an integral part of general health.
Oral health, regardless of age, is integral to overall good health. Older adults with compromised oral health face many consequences. Many seniors do not have dental insurance. The federal Medicare program does not cover routine dental care. Being homebound, disabled, or living in nursing homes) also increases the risk of poor oral health.
Oral health problems in older adults include the following:
- Untreated tooth decay
- Gum disease
- Tooth loss leading to poor nourishment
- Oral cancer
- Chronic diseases such as dry mouth, mouth sores, chronic yeast infection, jaw pain etc.
This leads to poor nutrition, weight loss, and aggravation of chronic illnesses. Considering these consequences. Our Center has created a special program for senior oral health care.
Senior programs:
We offer Membership plans for just $ 1.30/day for your preventive care needs. Additional discount when you enroll additional family members. Also up to 25% off of any needed treatment with a reduced fee Program for dental care for our membership plan holders. Call us to see if you qualify for one of our options.
Don’t forget to ask for our Senior Membership plan for preventative care and more!
At our practice, we offer a wide array of services to meet your oral health and dental needs, including:
- Geriatric oral health evaluation – preventative, diagnostic and management
- Cleanings and oral health maintenance
- Exams & X-rays
- Restorations
- Root Canal Therapy
- Extractions
- Bridges
- Dentures & Partials
- Implants
Why Seniors Need a Special Focus?
The growth and aging demand a lot of change in many aspects. According to research, the aging population has some level of medical complexity, increased sensitivity. So they are prone to a different set of oral problems compared to the general adult population. Hence the diagnostic, preventative, and treatment aspects significantly differ, based on the health condition.
The U.S. Surgeon General has stated that older Americans suffer from a “silent epidemic” of serious, consequential oral health problems. When you consider that many of these patients also have cognitive and physical complexities that may need a treatment modification. It’s easy to see the need for dental professionals who specialize in treating geriatric patients. Doctors who are trained with the skill set can facilitate the evaluation and management with ease. Since the seniors are the primary focus of such dental practice. Hence the workflow and the team are designed to accommodate the needs of senior care.
Why it’s Important?
There are a number of reasons why older people need specialized care from dentists with geriatric training. According to the American Dental Association, it’s not uncommon for seniors to have sensory, physical and cognitive impairments. These conditions complicate dental treatment and communication. Because they are familiar with these issues, geriatric-focused dental professionals take great care to provide customized care and focused communication.
A dentist who specializes in geriatric dentistry is careful to include trusted caregivers in the treatment process. This allows them to be present to provide comfort and reassurance. Since older patients with cognitive limitations are easily overwhelmed, geriatric-focused dental professionals are careful to communicate using short, simple sentences. This helps relax the patient and ease the treatment process.
Interactions from medications:
Seniors are likely to take several over-the-counter and prescription medications. This can make them more vulnerable to drug interactions and drug reactions. Dental professionals who specialize in geriatric dentistry understand this complexity. So they take special precautions to protect the safety and well-being of older patients. Also, the guidelines on geriatric care insist on the safe prescription of drugs and avoiding certain medications.
Our doctor, Dr. Thoppay is trained in Interdisciplinary Geriatrics with a fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. She furthered her learning in the interprofessional geriatric care at Virginia Commonwealth University as a Faculty, while also being an active clinician and educator.
Dr. Thoppay has provided care over the past 23 years with a special focus on the senior population throughout her career. She has worked with the independent living senior facility, rehab, nursing homes and has cross-trained professionals in geriatric oral care.
Dr. Thoppay and our team will be very happy to provide you the best care for you. Our Practice is designed to accommodate the care that you need.
Contact us at 407 636 6003 for more information.
We Offer membership plans for your preventative dental care and for members we offer Senior Reduced Fee Program*
Our Doctor has extensive experience and is a geriatric fellowship-trained doctor in interdisciplinary and interprofessional geriatrics doctor.
Additional information
The information on the American Dental Association website provides a handful of information on aging and oral health https://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/aging-and-dental-health