The high rate of tooth decay among seniors makes it especially important for our patients to understand how to properly clean implants. According to information from the Centers for Disease Control, one in five seniors has untreated tooth decay. Since it’s not just natural teeth that are vulnerable, people need to understand why seniors have the second-highest rate of caries after children.
That caries commonly develop in seniors who had good health earlier in life implies that their increased tooth decay is due to a change in lifestyle, instead of being a generational feature. Seniors often have dexterity and motor control issues that make it difficult for them to maintain thorough oral hygiene. They also often change their diets to focus more on soft food which gets stuck between their teeth more easily and tend to be high in sugar. Lots of medications cause dry mouth as a side effect, and this makes it harder to remove food debris and fight the growth of decay-causing bacteria colonies. Other issues are that seniors may not have coverage for regular cleanings or simply forget to brush and floss.
These issues are important to take into account when assessing patients for implants, but they are also all fixable. Potential implant patients should discuss how to clean implants and dentures properly with their dentist.
Our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania at 2546 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19145 would gladly evaluate you for a dental implant. To schedule an appointment, call 215-463-4141 or visit OralSurgeryPA.com and fill out a contact sheet.
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