The smile is one of the most important attributes of the human species and it's something that is carried throughout life.  An abundance of factors can affect the human smile, one being age.  As the population ages, the dental needs of the older individuals becomes increasingly specialized; each individual has different medical problems and take different prescriptions which can cause concerns in the mouth.  Yet, being older doesn’t automatically bring with it poor oral health.  A geriatric dentition can span a broad range of ages.  Both excellent and poor oral health is seen in people of all ages.  It is true that increasing years can bring on gum and bone recession, dry mouth, brittle teeth, periodontal disease and side effects of drug treatment; all of which can deteriorate oral health, but it can be prevented.  On top of the years, many older adults are faced with medical problems that can affect their general overall health as well as their dental health.

But, there is definitely an opportunity to preserve the smile at all ages.  We are dealing with new technology in association with an older system; our body.  The care of each patient is personalized, but there are a series of core systems utilized to restoring a smile and bringing back its proper function.  People are living longer due to these technological advancements, and their teeth also benefit from these improvements.  Technology in oral health, such as electric toothbrushes, dental implants and others can preserve the teeth for those who suffer from arthritis and replace missing teeth that were removed because of decay or periodontal disease.  The older individual is not doomed to poor oral health and can have a mouth that still looks and feels great.

I often hear patients say, “I would restore my mouth if I was younger.”  This thought is understandable, but if someone is 75+ years of age and in good health, there is a good possibility they could be someone who lives to be 100.  One of the fastest growing segments of the population are those patients over 100 years of age.  Last week we celebrated my grandfather’s 101st!  Good oral health also facilitates continued good health as we age.  The ability to maintain a proper diet and good nutrition is closely related to a person’s capacity to properly chew their food.  I rarely see patients in their 80’s, 90’s or beyond that don’t have good oral health.  In my experience, a healthy mouth goes hand in hand with good physical health as we age.

I write all of this to say – Don’t give up!  It’s never too late to have a beautiful, healthy smile.  See your dentist to find out what can be done to maintain, restore or renew an outstanding smile!  It is one of the best investments in your health you can make.