What Is The Easiest Way For Older People To Care For Their Teeth?

You might imagine dentures next to beds as part of nursing home dental care in South California (So-Cal) but dentures are just a small part of oral health for seniors. Senior people, geriatrics if you will, need to look after their oral health in multiple ways, not unlike younger people. Teeth and gums age, just like the rest of the body. Even if you have looked after your oral care all your life, decay happens. Bones get frail in the body and bones get frail in the mouth. Muscles soften and gums soften. An older person needs regular teeth cleaning, just like younger people. And because decay starts to happen, more tooth extractions, root canals, cavity fillings, dental implants and dentures need to take place and be dealt with. But as we all know, seniors do not exactly like trips to the dentist. Which is why the dentist will come to them.

There is so much a nursing home can do

Nursing staff help with medical issues but call in a doctor when necessary.  Mobile dental care is the equivalent of a doctor making house calls. A dentist makes a nursing home call, a house call, but because they need equipment, they have a fully kitted out mobile dental practice. This kind of mobile dental practice looks and feels like a regular dental practice. It has running water, good lighting, mirrors for the dentist, the dental chair, all the equipment needed, all in a modified van. Almost all procedures that seniors need can be provided in this mobile van. And if something further needs to be looked at and addressed, the mobile dentist will return to do the next procedure.

It’s not only about dentures. A mobile dentist is part of a nursing home dental care So-Cal and many different procedures, are offered.