Your Partners in Oral Health for Life; Tailored Care for Seniors Preserves a Healthy, Complete Smile

Dr. Jared Palmer and the team at Acadia Family Dentistry in Thibodaux, Louisiana, are here for you at every phase of life and as your needs and goals evolve. We cater to our more “experienced” patients, knowing that seniors are presented with new challenges to the health of their mouths and their bodies.

Notably, we partner closely with our older patients to preserve the integrity and health of their teeth. Regardless of how many birthdays they have celebrated, patients can keep all of their natural teeth with consistent dental care. The “standard” routine is to visit our office once every six months, or two times per year. During these visits, our dental hygienists gently remove plaque build-up, harmful bacteria, and surface stains to promote a healthy, attractive smile and fresh breath. Dr. Palmer also uses his skills and technologies to evaluate the condition of the teeth, gums, and associated structures. He has the capabilities and knowledge to detect problems early into the decay process – before they wreak havoc on your mouth!

Additionally, our team stays on top of any changes to your overall health as you age. It is important to share with us any new diagnoses that you may be living with, as well as any medications that have been prescribed to you to control chronic conditions. We need to know this information because there is a two-fold relationship between oral and systemic health:

• The mouth’s health affects the health of the “rest of you.”
• Oral health also reflects your overall or systemic health.

Consider this: Patients who have a hard time controlling conditions such as diabetes are at increased risk of developing periodontal (gum) disease or oral infections. Likewise, periodontal disease can make it difficult for patients to keep their blood sugar levels in check. So, it is true that a healthy mouth supports a healthy you!

If you are confronted with new risk factors for conditions such as gum disease, we may want to alter your dental routine a bit. Instead of seeing us once every six months, it can be more appropriate for patients to visit us once every three to four months. Also, one of the biggest threats to our older, valued patients’ mouths comes from a condition called xerostomia, which is just the medical way of referring to “dry mouth.” Your mouth depends on saliva as a natural cleanser to help wash away food debris; however, chronic conditions and many medications can suppress salivary function and the quality of saliva. Dry mouth, in turn, puts you at risk of dental decay and periodontal disease. We at acadia dentistry may recommend OTC or prescription products to stimulate saliva production and to keep the mouth moist.

As you can see, there are many ways to protect the teeth and prevent tooth loss that also leads to the need for tooth replacement, such as dentures. However, your needs are one of a kind. So, we can also partner with you to ensure that any dental restorations remain in good shape. And, if you have dentures, we’ll work with you to make sure they continue to fit well, are comfortable, and look great. Please bring your questions and concerns to us! Call Acadia Family Dentistry at (985) 303-2920 to schedule your appointment.