“Nursing Homes” include:
- Memory Care Facilities
- Intensive Care Facilities
- Skilled Nursing Facilities
- Board and Care Homes
Why provide dental care if they have no teeth?
Elderly people who live in nursing homes are at a greater risk for oral health problems than those who live independently. Even though many seniors have dentures and no real teeth left, it is still important to take care of their oral hygiene. Oral health is linked to many other health issues, such as heart disease, diabetes, and an increased risk of pneumonia. Brush the gums and tongue daily with a soft bristle toothbrush and use an antiseptic mouthwash morning and night.
Is a nursing home the ideal choice for your loved one?
Nursing home facilities may be the best choice for Los Angeles and Orange County patients who require long-term medical attention. Long-term care refers to a comprehensive range of medical, emotional, personal, social services, etc. This type of care is directed towards people who need 24-hour medical care and supervision.
What type of care is provided?
When you enroll your loved ones in a nursing home, you want to be assured that they are receiving the best quality of care available. The services nursing homes offer vary between different facilities. Most nursing home services often offer the most extensive care anyone can get outside a hospital. Nursing homes usually provide custodial and skilled nursing care. Custodial care is when a person is provided help with bathing, getting dressed, and eating. Skilled nursing care includes medical monitoring and treatments given by a registered nurse. Skilled care also includes other services that are provided by specially trained professionals, such as respiratory, occupational, and physical therapists. It is not common for a dentist to do full comprehensive treatment in nursing homes, our doctors offer services to anyone who needs in-home dental care in Los Angeles and Orange County, even those who reside in a skilled nursing home.
Common dental health issues
Some of the most common dental health issues with the geriatric population are:
Food pocketing: Most of the time people with swallowing problems will exhibit this problem. This issue caused by food that accumulates in the cheeks as the person continues to eat and even hours after eating. This can lead to the formation of cavities that progress faster, especially hard to treat “root cavities.”
Root Cavities: “Root decay” occurs when cavities form on the roots of teeth rather than the crowns of teeth. This issue often occurs when the gums recede exposing the root surfaces. These types of cavities can easily be missed unless x-rays are taken when cavities are below the gum line and in between the teeth. These cavities also progress faster than cavities on the crown of the tooth because the root is softer than enamel.
Dry mouth: Many medications ingested, or cancer treatments can cause dry mouth. Saliva keeps the mouth wet, flushes food particles out from between teeth and prevents the teeth from decay and infection.
Oral cancer: As we age the risk for us obtaining oral cancer increases. Oral cancer can sometimes be detected by lesions found on your tongue or in other areas of your mouth.
Inability to properly take care of one’s own oral health: Age doesn’t always negatively affect oral health. Certain medical conditions such as Alzheimer’s dementia or arthritis in the hands and fingers make brushing teeth difficult or impossible to perform. Some people are also predisposed to dental health problems. Medications may also affect their cognitive health, making performing regular daily functions difficult to do.
