Why Dental Care Is Important for Seniors
- By Mary Marks
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- 26 Sep, 2019
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Priorities change with age and dental care seems to be one of the things that elderly people tend to forget. However, dental health is connected to overall health in many ways, so maintaining proper dental hygiene and health is increasingly important in old age. Here are some of the most important reasons why dental care and trips to the oral sedation dentistry Highlands Ranch office are so important for seniors:
- Reducing the risk of heart disease – poor dental hygiene and care can lead to gum disease, an inflammatory process that increases the risk of heart problems;
- Reducing the risk of pneumonia – poor oral health increases the risk of inflammations in the lungs, such as pneumonia as well. If the oral cavity is not kept clean, harmful bacteria can be aspirated and they can reach the lungs, causing serious illnesses. A good dental cleaning regimen, accompanied with regular visits to the dentist can efficiently reduce the risk of respiratory illnesses, especially the risk of pneumonia;
- Reducing the risk of diabetes – one of the most diseases caused by poor dental care is gum disease, a condition that is known to hinder the body’s ability to process insulin. If the inflammation of the gum is left untreated, what started as difficulties in the processing of insulin can easily turn into diabetes.





Although oral sedation dentistry Highlands Ranch is one of the optionsavailable for managing anxiety and discomfort during oral surgery, you certainly do not need to use it all the time. As a matter of fact, the exact type of sedation or anesthesia that you receive during oral procedures may depend on various factors, such as the complexity of the procedure, your medical problems, as well as your doctor’s preferences.
There can be several different levels of sedation that can be used in oral surgery. Local anesthesia is one of them. This involves injecting anesthetic medication into the specific area where the surgery will take place. It numbs the area and is often used for less invasive procedures.
Oral sedation involves taking medication in the form of a pill to induce a state of relaxation and drowsiness. The patient is still conscious, but he/she may not be fully aware of the procedure. At any rate, sedation helps him/her get rid of anxiety.
In the case of intravenous sedation, medication is administered through a vein, which induces a deeper state of sedation than oral sedation. Patients may still be conscious, but they are less aware of their surroundings and may not remember the procedure.




