Geriatric Dentistry

Americans are living longer and continuing to enjoy the lifestyles they have grown accustomed to, in large part thanks to advances in modern medicine and dentistry. No longer are seniors housebound, forced to live out their senior years watching television in the recesses of an isolated, dark living room.

Advances in dentistry have not only created the opportunity but also the expectation of maintaining oral health throughout a lifetime. People expect to enjoy active lifestyles, which include the enjoyment of fine dining and the youthful look a full dentition provides by supporting facial structures and thus retaining a youthful appearance. Medicine has consistently demonstrated that nutrition is a key factor in maintaining health, and healthy dentin is essential for this function. The oral-systemic relationship is well established; chronic inflammation or infection in the mouth can affect the entire body. Periodontal disease, a chronic inflammation, has been proven to increase the likelihood of stroke, heart attack, diabetes, and other maladies. Infection in the mouth increases the rate of prosthetic joint failure and rejection. Read more