Elderly seniors have a host of issues to deal with, including the fact that they can’t brush their teeth like they used to, or floss due to arthritis or dementia, or whatever their health care concern is.  That lack of good oral hygiene combined with many who take a host of medications that cause dry mouth creates an epidemic of caries, and particularly root caries.

When the cavity starts destroying the root of the tooth next to the bone, it becomes a heroic endeavor to try to save or restore the tooth.  It also becomes quite expensive when you have to replace crowns or have to resort to root canals or implants.  Gum disease, lack of care, bone loss, and the inability to clean down the infected areas also make seniors more prone to tooth loss. Seniors are usually on a fixed budget which makes it hard to pay for the needed care. In addition, many seniors have diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and are prone to pulmonary infections such as pneumonia, and heart issues. The infection in the gums can complicate and worsen their entire health condition.

Keeping the mouth free of infection and healthy is one of the keys to preserving the oral health of this category of patients.  In addition, the best way to prevent root caries is with fluoride and the best time to apply the new varnishes we have is right after the dental cleaning.  It typically isn’t covered by insurance, but it can be so effective.  The prescription toothpaste we provide our patients, such as ClinPro 5000 and Prevident, allow the person to apply the fluoride at home on a daily basis, helping to prevent root cavities.  We also love the Carifree products, such as the treatment rinse and maintenance rinse, to bring the pH of the mouth back up out of the acid zone and kill some of these unhealthy bacteria.

Additionally, if the patient would avoid sucking on lozenges and drinking acidic beverages and such they can prevent a lot of these problems on their own.  Many of our elderly patients (including my own mother) benefit by coming in every three months for a cleaning to help debride the mouth of the unhealthy biofilm that causes dental problems.

In short, we have found that preventative in-office care can help seniors avoid losing their teeth and impact their ability to chew effectively. Also, many seniors go downhill after losing teeth. Preventative care can also be a lot cheaper in the long run, thus saving them a lot of money.

If you are a senior or know someone in your family who could benefit from a preventative care approach to dentistry, please give us a call at 360-256-1202.  We can do a lot to help keep your mouth healthy and avoid the epidemic of root caries and periodontal disease that we are seeing. At Two Rivers Dentistry, our dedicated dentist, Dr. Vaughn Teuscher and his team are happy to serve our senior patients in Vancouver, Washington.

The post HELPING SENIORS GET THE QUALITY DENTAL CARE THEY NEED first appeared on Two Rivers Dentistry.

But now, imagine not having to go to the dentist for a shot or to have your tooth drilled on. We simply clean off the tooth, etch it, then paint on a liquid for 4 minutes and it’s done, quick and painless. What’s more, there is no staining or discoloration of the teeth, it is tasteless and odorless, and can be done on all ages 4 and up with virtually no side effects or contraindications.

Many of these early lesions appear like white chalk on the teeth and the liquid contains a peptide or protein that penetrates the lesion and sets up a ladder-like scaffold inside which allows the body to leverage amino acids, calcium and phosphate ions to help new hydroxyapatite crystals grow in the enamel. It can then be tracked over the next 6 months and beyond to make sure it is healing and getting better.

They have been using this product in Switzerland over the past 10 years and the studies show it has a 95% success rate and 13 times higher probability of success versus fluoride varnish alone. Of course, if the person never brushes their teeth or exhibits poor home care or prevention by not coming in for regular check-ups, it may start to form a hole in the tooth and require a filling, but this intermediary treatment is a game changer.

Using ClinPro 5000 or Prevident or any of the prescription strength home fluoride kinds of toothpaste will aid in the remineralization process as will a fluoride varnish treatment in the dental office after the cleaning or maintenance appointment and or after the Curodont Repair Fluoride Plus repair treatment process.

There will be a new ADA code beginning in January 2024 for this procedure titled hydroxyapatite remineralization of the tooth/per tooth. We hope insurance companies will start to help with the costs of this which typically is not covered by insurance. But, at only one-third of the cost of a filling currently, it will be well worth it not to have your tooth drilled on or have to endure filling replacements, crowns, root canals, implants or loss of the tooth over the life of the person.

We are excited to now offer this amazing new technology and look forward to seeing the benefits it provides our dental family. If you have any questions about this new treatment or would like to schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to call us at 360-256-1202 or email us at office@tworiversdentistry.com. We look forward to assisting you with all of your dental needs in Vancouver, WA, and the surrounding areas!

The post CURODONT™ REPAIR FLUORIDE PLUS REMINERALIZES EARLY CAVITIES first appeared on Two Rivers Dentistry.