YOUR DENTIST IN VENICE SAYS ROUTINE VISITS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE!
As you age, you may need to pay closer attention to your oral health. Even though older patients are keeping their natural teeth longer than ever before, it doesn’t mean they aren’t still susceptible to dental disease later in life. Once you hit a certain age, managing oral health becomes more important than ever, which means you should be having routine visits planned with your dentist in Venice!
By visiting, you dramatically reduce the chances of needing restorative or emergency care later!
How preventive care keeps you protected
When people think of dental visits, they rarely equate them to other forms of health maintenance. People understand that they should visit their general practitioner once a year, but often don’t take biannual dental visits anywhere near as seriously as they should. Preventive visits are the best way to avoid dental hiccups in your daily life.
Additionally, once you hit a certain age, you’re more vulnerable to dental disease. This is particularly true if you take medications that affect your oral health. Many medications cause chronic dry mouth, also known as xerostomia. Receding gums, a common occurrence people experience as they age, put you at higher risk of gum disease.
What you can avoid with regular visits
Regular dental visits help you prevent the overwhelming majority of dental diseases, as long as you practice at-home oral care daily.
For example, tooth decay is more common among seniors, but your dentist can confirm if the early signs are present. This will give you time to make adjustments to your routine or begin using prescription-strength toothpaste and/or mouthwash.
According to the Academy of General Dentistry, 25 percent of adults between the ages of 65 and 74 have severe gum disease. This can dramatically increase the chances of tooth loss. Luckily, regular cleanings will reduce this problem.
Lastly, your dentist isn’t only looking for dental problems during your visits. He’s also able to confirm if early signs of systemic disease are present, including diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, malnutrition, and oral cancer. In fact, 90 percent of systemic diseases carry markers in the mouth, so your dentist is actually more equipped to find disease than your general practitioner!
How it saves you money in the long-term
Preventive care is by far the cheapest form of dental care you can buy. By waiting for emergencies to happen before visiting the dentist, you set yourself up for higher dental bills and more invasive and uncomfortable treatments in the future. Essentially, every dollar spent on preventive care is worth dozens more on emergency and restorative services, such as fillings, crowns, dental implants, root canals, extractions, dentures, and other expensive treatments.
Don’t let dental disease sneak up on you as you age. Schedule an appointment with your Venice dentist today to stay proactive!
About the author
Dr. R. Scott Thompson earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Emory University School of Dentistry and established his first practice in Venice in 1990. As technology evolves, Dr. Thompson remains fully committed to learning new techniques and devices that help him improve the patient experience. To learn more about his practice, contact him through his website.