Helping Older Dental Patients In Epsom

Age need not be a significant barrier to maintaining a healthy mouth

Barring accidents, and providing that they are looked after well, there is no doubt that younger teeth have an advantage over older ones.

If nothing else, they tend to be brighter, and the chances of damage and even loss are reduced simply because of less years lived.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that, when you get old, poor oral health and unsightly teeth are inevitable and indeed there are many things that we can do to help here at the Clocktower Dental, Implant & Facial Centre.

Today, we will take a look at some of the things that can affect your teeth as you get older and also discuss possible treatments where this becomes necessary. We will also take a brief look at some of the cosmetic dentistry options at your local Epsom dentist that can make your teeth look a little younger too!

Tooth loss

Significant tooth loss is often associated with old age. It can happen at any age of course, but as the years roll by, our teeth undergo a lot of stress and strain and quite often suffer because of it. This can sometimes result in tooth loss. It is worth remembering too, that many of the older generation may well have smoked for a large part of their lifetimes. Smoking was widely accepted as the norm then, and many are unfortunately seeing the result of that now. As smoking is a major contributor to periodontal problems, it is probably no great surprise that tooth loss is common in older smokers.

If you have lost some of your teeth, the chances are that you are currently wearing dentures. These have been around for a long time indeed and do perform a very important function. Unfortunately, some people find them to be uncomfortable and unstable, with some abandoning them after a while.

At our Epsom dental clinic, we can provide an excellent alternative to dentures in the shape of dental implants. Unlike dentures, these also provide a new ‘tooth root’ which keeps replacement teeth extremely strong and stable in your mouth. Unlike when wearing dentures, you will no longer have to be ‘picky’ about what you eat as dental implants will allow you to eat and chew even the toughest food. Although their placement does require a more complex, albeit minor, surgical procedure, once placed, they can last you for around 20 years with good care.

Gum disease

Gum disease can also happen at any age if we don’t take care of our gums, but it is generally more common in older people. Leaving aside historical smoking, the fact is that older people tend to produce less saliva, which can lead to a dry mouth. Not only does this present a problem in that less food particles and bacteria are washed away from the teeth and gums, but as regular readers of our blog will know, can also result in a build-up of harmful bacteria which can lead to gum disease.

Whilst making sure that you stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of water and also possibly chewing sugar free gum to help produce saliva, we do still recommend that you see our hygienist for a regular scale and polish. This is generally recommended on a six monthly basis but if you suffer significantly from a dry mouth, more regular cleaning might be suggested. This will give you the best chance of managing your gum disease risks.

Worn teeth

The longer we have our teeth, the more likely they are to become worn down. Even if we don’t grind our teeth, a sure way to wear them down quickly, just the years of use means that our teeth might wear down over time. This can have two effects. It can make our teeth look more unusual, especially when combined with receding gums which tends to happen as we get older. It also means that we might notice that our teeth become more sensitive and that nice hot cup of tea is no longer as enjoyable, at least until it has cooled down.

Teeth wear down in various ways and an examination would be needed to determine the best treatment. Two of the most common are crowns and veneers.

Crowns would generally be used when the teeth have worn down from the top, making them appear shorter. The tooth will first be prepared and then a suitable crown produced using our in-house Cerec system. This state-of-the-art equipment produces a range of restorations in around one hour, meaning that you won’t have to come back for a second visit as would be the case if it was produced at an external dental laboratory. Where there is more general wearing down of a tooth, including the front surface, porcelain dental veneers may be used, but your dentist will advise based on your specific needs.

A smile boost

One common question from some of our older patients is why their teeth look stained and yellow. This is at least partially due to the darkening on the inside of the tooth that happens with age. Fortunately this can be remedied in two main ways – for more significant cases, veneers can be used, but for others, a non-invasive teeth whitening treatment is often more appropriate.

If you are advancing in years and unhappy about your teeth, whether from the point of view of how they function or how they look, why not contact us so that we can help? You can make an appointment at the Clocktower Dental, Implant & Facial Centre by calling us on 01372 720136 and our team will be pleased to assist.