Dental Health: a priority for baby boomers to Healthy Aging Month, says veteran San Antonio Cosmetic Dentist
Baby boomers are increasingly faced with problems unique dental aging and should be a priority for treatment that will improve the quality of life for their remaining years, instead of just patchwork fixes, says veteran cosmetic dentist San Antonio Camacho Edward, in recognition of September is Healthy Aging Month.
The leading edge of the baby boomers – who said "do not trust anyone over 30" in the 1960s – has moved past its 66th birthday, and almost all older than 50 years. Healthy Aging Month was created more than 15 years as the first baby boomers reached 50, to help them meet the challenges of aging.
By this time of life, Camacho said, many adults have spent decades of care for dental care of everyone but themselves to pay for braces for children and other procedures, and often neglect their own teeth. And it's not an uncommon sentiment among seniors that it is useless to get cosmetic surgery, for example, because they did not have much time to live anyway, he said.
Aging leads to serious dental problems, including:
Tooth loss – up to 25 percent of people 60 and older are missing all their teeth, while several others are missing at least a few teeth. The combined years of stress and wear and tear begins to reach a critical point. For cost reasons, many say the dentist to just pull the teeth, instead of choosing the root canals, crowns, bridges or other measures. Unfortunately, this is a false economy, a missing tooth means more stress and lack of support for the other teeth and can cause a "domino effect" of tooth loss later, alignment and gum disease.
Gum disease – A number of risk factors stimulating the elderly of gum disease – including an increased vulnerability to disease in general, the effects of diabetes, gums shrink, dry mouth and other . Gum disease affects not only the teeth but may have a deadly effect on overall health.
Wear – Aging teeth may have serious problems with wear, as the surfaces of teeth become pitted. These pits can trap food particles and bacteria and are more difficult to keep clean. It also weakens the tooth, creating a breach that can lead to rupture. Changes in the enamel and the pulp of teeth aging also means they are more fragile and break easily. And a lower sensitivity in the nerves means that seniors can not fine chipping or breaking.
Denture problems – apart from their shortcomings in relation to natural teeth, dentures are also subject to the conditions of aging. As time passes, the bone structure under the gums shrink, causing ill-fitting dentures that lead to pain and wound chewing, leading to poor nutrition.
Dry mouth – Seniors may experience dry mouth, salivary glands, because of both aging and a variety of medications – antidepressants to heart and drugs against hypertension and others. Saliva is crucial for dental health because of its importance in the washing of bacteria that can cause tooth decay and gum disease.
Experts in aging encourage seniors to be active in the areas of their lives that will keep them in a young and healthy of mind, thanks to good nutrition, exercise and social activities and adequate health care. This perspective not only contributes to the quality of life – but can actually prolong life. Dr. Camacho said it is important to realize that vision of dental health. And he disagrees with the idea of simply "patchwork" dentistry on the elderly.
"We often hear older patients who simply want" things patched up 'as opposed to something aesthetic, "said Camacho." They may have the idea that they are not worth it, or their families the idea that they are too old for cosmetic dentistry. This can lead to an attitude that things end. "
But cosmetic dentistry may be essential to the health of a person dying, he said:
"Improving a person's smile can bring more happiness and joy, not only by improving the efficiency chewing, but also bring joy back. They will want to smile more. "
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