Posted 07/02/18
In June I read an article which appeared in the New York Times entitled “Maintaining Oral Health, An Important Part of Aging”. I could not agree more. Not only do most of us want to have a beautiful, youthful smile, but we want to be able to be comfortable, chew nutritious foods well, and not jeopardize our overall health by having mouth infections that tax our immune system. Many studies link gum disease with increased incidence of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s to name a few.
What challenges our ability to maintain excellent oral health as we age? A dry mouth, a side effect of many medications, makes teeth more vulnerable to decay. Silver fillings don’t last forever and as they begin to break down cavity causing bacteria sneak under the old fillings destroying still more tooth structure. Gum disease is an infection. Any compromise to our immune system will make controlling the gum disease more difficult. In some individuals manual dexterity is compromised in their advanced years making plaque control more challenging. However; this article sites the biggest challenge to maintaining oral health with aging is cost. Medicare typically does not cover dental procedures and only about 10% of retirees have dental benefits from a former employer. Given this prevention is key.
To help our uninsured patients be able to afford quality dental care we offer an IN-HOUSE DENTAL COST-SAVINGS PLAN. This is not an insurance. It is a membership plan which focuses on prevention including most preventative services at no additional fee, as well as offering participants a 10% reduction on every service we offer in our practice. Unlike insurance plans there are no yearly maximum payments, no preexisting conditions, no exclusions for cosmetic dentistry, implants, and Invisible tooth aligners (like Clear Correct). We offer both individual and family plans.
Contact Darlene or Elizabeth for details.