Smile Makeover for Seniors

With advanced dental technology, you don’t have to be stuck with a toothless, gummy grin.

 Alot of people in their golden years manage to retain a full set of  teeth while others  display a fetching gummy smile. Those who have suffered tooth loss usually wear a partial or full denture. However, the denture is subject to wear and tear over time; or it becomes loose and starts to slip.

With age, the gum recedes. Gum tissue resorbs (shrinks) and the underlying bone mass in the jaw is gradually lost. Even the dental ridges can change.

Older folks are also more susceptible to gum diseases due to medication for ageing disorders that might affect their dental health. Gingivitis and periodontitis inflame and destroy the structures surrounding and supporting the teeth. Dental conditions due to the effects of ageing can also alter the fit of a denture.

 Keeping a denture in place

When a person’s bite changes, a new denture needs to be made. Dentists recommend that dentures be changed every three to five years. Another option is to have the existing denture relined so that it is tighter.

A reline, either hard or soft, involves resurfacing only the internal part of the denture. This can be done chairside (in the dentist’s office) or in a dental lab. A relined denture should last a year or two.

 Fine tuning the fit

A denture can have a metal or acrylic framework. Your personalised denture can be ready a few weeks after your first dental appointment, where the dentist will take an impression of your upper or lower jaw for the wax mould.

The dentist will then try to match the colour and shape of your denture, to be prepared by a dental lab, with your original teeth. Although it is the lab that crafts the denture, your dentist will make any minor adjustments to suit the denture to your bite when you try it on athis office.

  Adjustments are essential since ill-fitting dentures may injure the surrounding gum tissues, causing discomfort and even ulcers. A good denture allows an elderly person to chew properly and consume enough calories at meals. Good nutrition is especially important in the elderly.

 Look years younger

Sadly, some elderly patients feel that dental care is no longer essential as they are already in their twilight years. On the contrary, it remains necessary to continue having regular dental checkups and good oral hygiene. While it’s true that taste sensation decreases with age, a good denture nonetheless improves a person’s general wellbeing.

Older people should still enjoy their food and be able to enunciate clearly even if they get a little hard of hearing. A good denture improves appetite and speech as well as fills out the cheeks and lips. Grandpa and grandma they may be, but with a glinting smile, he can pass off as a handsome old devil and she a zesty head-turner still •