Caring for our loved ones
Why Dental?
Especially among residents of long term care facilities, oral health affects general health:
Many medications leave the resident more susceptible to oral bacteria and infection.
Bacteria from gum infections can increase the development of the plaques that
cause strokes and heart attacks.
Breathing the bacteria from gum infections is a significant risk factor in contracting pneumonia.
Estimates of the percentage of long term care residents with unmet dental needs range from 80% to 96% - with up to 78% having untreated tooth decay and 40% with periodontal disease.
Oral cancer kills more people each year than cervical cancer and skin cancer combined.
The older a person is, the more susceptible they are to oral cancer. Dental examinations can help to detect oral cancer.
Long term care residents may have trouble communicating the source of pain, resulting in a failure to diagnose oral issues by the facility staff.
Why Dental If There Are No Teeth?
The bacteria and infection issues noted in “Why Dental?” can come from the gums, not the teeth, with the related risks of pneumonia, stroke, and heart attack.
The oral cancer risks noted in “Why Dental?” are not related to the presence of teeth.
The bone structure of the mouth changes over time, meaning dentures need to be adjusted.
If residents cannot chew properly or without pain due to ill-fitting dentures or the lack of dentures, their ability to eat healthy food is reduced – with serious general health implications.