As you get older, keeping your smile healthy and bright becomes increasingly challenging. Missing teeth, worn enamel, or gum disease can impact your health, confidence, and overall well-being. Fortunately, modern dentistry offers remarkable solutions for seniors who want to restore their smiles.
Dental reconstruction is a series of dental treatments that can give you back your sparkling smile and improve your quality of life. To protect and preserve their oral health, seniors should know how a comprehensive treatment plan can bring back the look and functionality of natural teeth.
What Causes Oral Health to Decline With Age?
Some factors that cause oral health to decline with age are preventable, but others are unavoidable.
Many seniors have lost one or more of their teeth due to untreated gum disease or tooth decay. This can make daily activities like eating and speaking more challenging. If missing teeth are not replaced, they can cause bone loss.
Years of chewing, grinding, and eating acidic foods also take a toll on teeth, wearing away the enamel. Without this protective layer, teeth are more vulnerable to decay, sensitivity, and fractures.
Gum disease is a serious condition that affects many older adults. It often begins as mild inflammation at the gumline. Without treatment, it can lead to infected and receding gums. The most severe cases result in tooth loss.
These and other oral health issues compound and impact an older adult’s ability to eat and speak, affecting their confidence and quality of life. Fortunately, oral reconstruction offers a way to restore a smile’s function and appearance.
What Is Oral Reconstruction?
Oral reconstruction is a personalized plan for restoring a smile when multiple teeth are damaged or missing. It involves combining restorative and cosmetic dental treatments to address all of a patient’s unique needs.
Depending on the complexity of the recommended treatment, oral reconstruction can take a few appointments or a year to complete. The process requires time and patience, but a restored smile is more than worth it.
How Seniors Benefit From Oral Reconstructive Procedures
When older adults struggle with oral health, they can find help for a range of issues through oral reconstruction.
Restore Functional Issues
Older people with many broken or lost teeth may find it hard to eat normally. They may have to eat only soft foods or avoid chewing in certain areas of the mouth. But after oral reconstruction, they can again enjoy the foods they once loved.
Stops Jawbone Deterioration
The jawbone needs tooth roots for stimulation. Without stimulation, the body sends nutrients to other areas. Lack of nutrients causes the jawbone to deteriorate. This degeneration can impact the shape of the face and the ability to speak. Restorations like dental implants mimic a tooth root and preserve the jawbone.
Supports Overall Health
Oral health is closely linked to overall health. Untreated gum disease, for example, has been connected to systemic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. By addressing dental issues with oral reconstruction, seniors can enjoy better overall health.
Common Treatments Used in Oral Restoration
When an older adult is experiencing multiple problems with their oral health, their dentist may include a combination of the following treatments in their oral reconstruction plan.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a common way to replace missing teeth. This long-term solution creates stability and helps prevent bone loss through the implant.
Crowns and Bridges
Crowns and bridges are custom restorations that repair damaged teeth or replace missing ones. They can match your natural tooth shade, giving you a seamless smile.
Dentures & Restoring Smiles
Dentures are comfortable and natural-looking tooth replacement options. A full or partial denture can restore the ability to eat and speak and regain your ability to smile. Smile restoration can bring love and happiness back into your elderly person’s life.
Gum Loss Treatments
Non-invasive gum disease treatments, such as scaling and root planing, can create a stable foundation for a healthy smile.
Considerations for Teeth & Smile Restoration for Seniors
Reconstructive procedures are more than deciding which restorative procedures are needed. There are several other factors to consider.
- Bone Density: Bone density decreases with age, making some procedures, like implants, more challenging
- Medical Conditions: Patients must consider any medical conditions that could affect the outcome of treatment
- Comfort: Most seniors prefer less invasive treatments so that recovery is shorter and easier
During a consultation, a dentist will discuss these considerations before creating a personalized treatment plan that meets the specific needs and goals of the patient.
A Pathway to Renewed Confidence
If you or a loved one need help with your smile, Dr. Brett Langston and his dentistry care team can help. We focus on dental restoration, tooth replacement, and cosmetic dentistry, all components of restorative dentistry. Contact our dental office to schedule a consultation.