Caring for an Elderly Parent With Special Dental Needs
Your Dental Health And Tooth Restoration Options
Joe Lawrence
When it comes to oral health, visiting the dentist twice a year is a good start. In addition, you will need to carefully brush your teeth several times a day and floss. If you have problems in between visits, a trip to the dentist is in order to make sure you don't have any problems developing. Part of your exam will include looking for small cavities that are developing, weak spots in your teeth, and issues with your gums. If you have a cracked, chipped, or missing tooth, your dentist will talk to you about tooth restoration options. You don't have to live with missing teeth when you work with your dentist.
If Cavities Aren't Filled
Small cavities may cause you no pain. You won't know you have a cavity until you go to the dentist for an exam. When cavities go unfilled because you haven't been to the dentist in years, you are going to have more serious damage to your teeth once you do get an exam. You can develop a deep cavity that must be treated with a root canal. You could get an abscessed tooth because bacteria gets inside. You may need to have the tooth extracted because it is beyond saving.
When Teeth Chip
It is common to have a chipped tooth. When this occurs, your dentist can fix this for you using bonding material. You can have your chipped tooth fixed so that it looks natural, and you won't have to treat it any differently. If you leave a tooth that is chipped, you are at risk for introducing bacteria into the pulp of your tooth.
For Poorly Shaped or Odd-Sized Teeth
It's possible that you have teeth in your mouth that are structurally sound but are oddly shaped, too short, or too long. If this is a problem for you, a dentist can use different techniques to improve the look of your teeth without ruining the structural integrity of your existing tooth. Veneers can be used to cover up odd-shaped teeth, or to lengthen a tooth that is too short. Your dentist can also shorten a tooth that is too long using dental instruments.
Ignoring your oral health is never a good idea. Dental visits twice a year can prevent the need for extensive tooth restoration. When issues are caught early, it is easier to treat your teeth so that they remain healthy.
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Caring for an elderly parent tends to be tough enough without the added stress of dealing with dental implants or dentures. But, the prospect is not the end of the world—there are many things you can do to ensure that your parent's dental health is not compromised without having to spend a lot of personal time doing the care yourself. Between working with the right dentist, hiring a service provider for part time work, and giving your parent the tools he or she needs to care for his or her own dental health at home, you'll find that dental health for your loved one isn't so tough or time consuming after all. Hopefully you are able to get the support and information you need right here.