Providing Exceptional Care for Senior Patients By Dr. Everett Heringer on November 04, 2015

At Heringer Dentistry, we believe that there’s a story behind every smile, and some of the most compelling stories lie behind the smiles of our senior patients. At our family dentistry practice, we offer a comprehensive range of procedures designed to meet the unique needs of patients of all ages, including those in their senior years. Our entire team is sensitive to the special needs of senior patients, which allows us to provide exceptional dental care for seniors at our Bismarck, ND practice with unending respect, patience, and courtesy.

If you have an elderly loved one in need of excellent dental care, or you are a senior looking for an outstanding dentist, we encourage you to schedule a consultation at Heringer Dentistry today.

The Special Needs of Senior Patients

Of course, no two senior patients are alike. Nevertheless, whatever they’re unique needs, all senior patients want to be treated with dignity and respect. They are not children and they do not want to be treated with condescension. At Heringer Dentistry, we create an atmosphere of openness, warmth, trust, and mutual respect. We strive to put our senior patients at ease by making them feel truly cared about and listened to, never making them feel as though they are burdens. We provide care with a gentle touch at all times.

We also recognize that, while some seniors are still fully able to take care of themselves between visits to our office, many others cannot. Proper brushing and flossing require dexterity that many seniors lack, which can make these tasks difficult, if not impossible. As a result, some seniors receive the majority of their oral health care not at home but in our office. To encourage them to visit our office as often as they need to, we have to make each visit as pleasant and productive as possible.

By nature, seniors are also more susceptible to a variety of oral health problems, including:

Gum disease
Dry mouth syndrome
Tooth discoloration
Root canal infections
Tooth decay
Tooth loss
Loss of jaw bone density
Gum recession

Poor oral hygiene habits can exacerbate these problems, resulting in chronic mouth pain and the need for more expensive and extensive restorative procedures.

Common Dental Treatments for Senior Patients

Although there is no such thing as a dental treatment reserved solely for senior patients, there are certain treatments that are commonly performed on seniors due to the types of issues likely to be suffered by seniors. These treatments include:

Dental implants: Dental implants are tiny titanium posts that are surgically embedded into the jaw, where they provide the strongest, most stable possible support for crowns, bridges, or dentures for patients who are missing one or more of their natural teeth.
Dentures: Whether supported by dental implants or removable, modern dentures are more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing than ever before.
Root canal therapy: This procedure is performed to salvage an infected tooth.