Even the title of today’s blog is a little tricky. When does ‘old age’ start these days? Many people keep going and are socially active long into their seventies and even eighties and beyond. As a loose definition though, let us take somewhere around retirement age as a guideline for who we have in mind that can benefit from the treatments we will mention shortly.
As we know from conversations with some of the older patients that we see at Blake Dental; they not only care about how their teeth look but about their functionality as well. Poor quality and weakened teeth can make eating difficult and, as dining out and socialising is often where many older people meet up, this can present problems.
There was, perhaps, a time, when people simply accepted that when their teeth had failed them, that was the end of it. There was a limit on what could be done to teeth then, usually they were either filled or extracted, with dental crowns coming in a bit later. Modern dentistry now offers so many options and benefits to patients of all ages, and that includes those of more advanced years.
Tooth loss is more common as we grow older. While some of this is down to simple wear and tear of the years, this isn’t always the case. One issue which often causes tooth loss in older patients is gum disease. It is a fact that, as we become older, we produce less saliva and it is this that usually plays a significant role in controlling the bacteria that can lead to gingivitis and periodontitis. Seeing the dental hygienist for a scale and polish procedure will be of great benefit then. Generally, this would be every six months, but it might be suggested that a visit every three months would be more beneficial, following your initial assessment.
Older teeth are likely to be weaker and therefore more prone to breakages. Where appropriate, a porcelain crown might be suggested to strengthen the tooth and make it more practical to eat a wider range of foods.
As tooth loss becomes more common as we get older, we are often faced with the choice of leaving gaps in our teeth or looking at solutions to replace them. Dentures are often the most common choice but these do come with compromises. Especially as we lose bone from the jaw, both due to tooth loss and simply ageing, it is quite likely that dentures will not remain securely in the mouth. This causes movement which can be uncomfortable due to friction on the gums, but also makes eating certain foods more difficult. Not only can this spoil your enjoyment at mealtimes but could, potentially, lead to you eating a more restrictive diet which might not provide all the necessary nutrients that you need in advancing years.
Dental implants, on the other hand, offer strong and stable replacement teeth. These can be individually placed or even a full arch of replacement teeth can be used. Our implant dentist will be able to discuss this with you following a consultation and explain the options available.
This one might surprise a few people, but why shouldn’t older people have nice looking teeth, as well as younger patients? As we mentioned earlier, people are more active later on in life than they used to be so why wouldn’t you want to look your best when you go on holiday or out for social gatherings etc?
Our teeth whitening procedure is an effective way of improving the colour of your teeth and requires no invasive dentistry at all. It is also relatively affordable so why not give it a try and see how your smile is transformed.
While a tooth whitening treatment may work well for many people, the reality is that older people’s teeth are probably more likely to be somewhat more heavily stained or discoloured. While there is no harm in trying a teeth whitening procedure first of all, to see if they benefit you enough for your needs, there is also the option of porcelain veneers that can be used where staining and discolouration is more significant.
This procedure does require some invasive dentistry as it requires a fine layer of tooth enamel to be removed from the teeth before attaching a fine layer of porcelain to them. These are then shaped and polished to give you a natural appearance and whiter teeth.
As with a teeth whitening procedure, you don’t have to have the ‘brilliant white’ smile you may have seen on some TV personalities and this might look unnatural on you. Both of these treatments can be adjusted to a shade that you are happy with.
Whatever age you currently are, there are many things that dentists can now do to strengthen your teeth and to make them look nicer. If you would like to discover what we can do to help you, why not contact Blake Dental for an initial consultation to discuss this? You can do this by calling us at our Witham dental practice on 01376 501688.
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Katie Annabel Blake trading as Blake Dental is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Financing First Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Katie Annabel Blake is a credit broker, not a lender. The provider of a payment scheme which is not offered through or by Financing First Limited may not be so authorised and regulated.
