Recently in Mouth health Category

According to "YourDentistryGuide.com", the mere thought of out-of-pocket expenses prevents many Americans from receiving routine and necessary dental treatment.  This is especially true for seniors,  In Los Angeles, the county aging department found that 61% of seniors do not have dental insurance. 

Dental Plans

Various dental insurance plans are available and are designed to help offset the costs associated with necessary dental care. 

Plans have limitations on allowed services:

• The number of dental visits
• Radiographs (X-rays)
  
• Treatments covered

Just like medical insurance plans, some dental insurance plans only reimburse patients when the least expensive treatment alternative is selected.  Other dental plans do not provide coverage for necessary treatments of pre-existing conditions.

Flexible Spending Accounts

You may not be aware that you have flexible spending account options available through your employer for dental or medical needs. Check with your employer to see if a flexible spending account is an option for you.

The types of dental insurance plans available include the following:

Dental Insurance Plan Choices:

• Indemnity Plan: Select your own dentist in fee-for-service that includes limitations and co-payment options. 
  
• Self-Insurance Plan: Similar in nature to indemnity plans, but you might not be able to select your own dentist.
• Closed Panel Plan: A specific group  of dentists are available to you.
• Capitation Plan: Designate specific dentists for intervals of treatment. 
  
• Preferred Provider Organization (PPO): PPO dental plans are limited to a group of dentists  who provide dental care at a reduced cost.
• Direct Reimbursement Plan: Employers  directly reimburse employees for dental services they receive.
• Dental Care Service Plan: Use a group of dentists who form a non-profit organization to provide dental services at set fees.

I recently discovered a comprehensive website called "Consumer Guide to Dentistry" that includes information about senior dentistry and dental health.

Dental care for seniors involves unique considerations. Seniors are more likely to suffer from a host of oral health issues resulting from the natural aging process, their inability to receive proper oral health care due to financial constraints (no dental insurance) or their inability to provide adequate dental hygiene care for themselves.

These factors, combined with the limited dental benefits provided by state aid programs for the aged, blind or disabled, leave many seniors at risk of ignoring tooth decay and tooth infection until there is no alternative but tooth extraction -- which is the only dental procedure covered by many state aid programs such as Medicaid or Medicare.

Tooth Loss, Periodontal Disease and Other Dental Concerns for Seniors

Prior to tooth loss, seniors may experience tooth sensitivity or discoloration due to a loss of enamel and dentin (hard, calcareous tissue beneath the enamel), or root deterioration caused by gum recession.

Seniors are more prone to periodontal disease (gum disease) resulting from improper dental hygiene practices, poor diet, ill-fitting dental appliances and/or diseases such as cancer or diabetes. In fact, the supporting bone structure for the teeth, including the jaw, may shift, which can play havoc on a senior's bite and may contribute to tooth decay.

Seniors are also more likely to suffer from inflammation of gum tissue, dry mouth syndrome (often caused by medications) or oral thrush (a fungal disease causing ulcers and whitish spots on membranes of the mouth due to its effect on the immune system).

Dental Hygiene for Seniors

• Brush, floss and rinse with mouthwash properly to maintain dental hygiene, as instructed by your dentist.
• Look into special toothbrushes to clean hard-to-reach areas of the mouth.
• Know the warning signs that indicate your mouth, teeth or gums may be in jeopardy, including tooth sensitivity, teeth grinding, pain, mouth sores, bumps (see oral cancer), swelling, loose teeth, jaw popping or clicking, difficulty quenching thirst, swallowing or chewing (dry mouth syndrome).
• Visit your dentist as often as he or she recommends for regular dental hygiene checkups.
• Maintain dental appliances such as dentures and dental bridges properly.
• Consider seeing your dentist before and after surgery.
• Tell your dentist about any medications that you are taking or changes to medication.

This website provides Dental Hygiene suggestions for Seniors, as well as an online dentist LOCATOR:  YourDentistryGuide.com

According to Paul Petersen of Aging in LA, homecare dentists help seniors at home and in senior care centers.  This is often overlooked by caregivers because most people don't like their caregivers peering into their mouths!

Regular dental care affects mouth health, nutrition, and even lung health.

Homecare Dentists in Action.  Dr. Kevin Warthan takes care to patients in their own homes. He started part time service to seniors because his father had Parkinsons and was homebound.

Signs of an oral problem:

• Belligerance or frustration
• Not eating as well
• Dentures are clicking and clacking
• More vocal
• Decreased appetite
• Sensitivities

Caregivers and authorities know that oral health has a perisystemic link.  In insurance we separate the body form the mouth!  But aspiration pneumonia is caused by the bacteria from around one's own teeth is aspirated into the lungs.  Winter flu season is often connected to aspiration pneumonia and has become the leading cause of death.  Oral health helps with chewing -- and thus, nutrition, as well as bacterial well being.

Enjoying your food is often one of the main pleasures for aging seniors -- so having good mouth health is vitally imporant to enjoying the full flavor and texture of one's food.  Not to mention the value of thoroughly chewing the food for good digestion.

Traveling to the dentist takes significant effort just to travel there...and then sitting and waiting, and then the discomfort in the dental chair.  But having a dentist or hygenist come in every THREE months -- the amount of time it takes for bacteria to regrow and populate the mouth, can keep the mouth in good health.

Teaching care givers how to monitor gooit's often d mouth health, and help with care such as making sure dentist care is adequate is important.  When teeth fall out,  as sign of deeper problems.

Problems that can be detected by a dental exam include inadequate chewing, missing teeth, proper chewing, taste, nutrition.  The ability to chew through food properly helps digestion and prevents stomach problems. Medications can dry out the mouth and that affects digestion as well since adequate saliva is needed for good digestions.

Unseen problems such as a sore spot under the dentures can be a sign of hidden problems such as missing back teeth.  A good dental exam -- and regularly -- is very important.  

Bad nutrition can also cause the loss of teeth.

Dentists are being recruited -- housecall hygenist to go in without the dentist to handle cleanings, assistants and dentists are employed by Homecare Dentists to attend clients in their beds or an easy chair recliner.   They work slowly and write things down for later recall assistance.  

A compact, mobile dental equipment system developed for the military is used by these mobile dentists.  Several dozen companies manufacture mobile equipment.  The equipment is brought into the patient's room or facility medical office so the patient doesn't even have to go to the curbside for an altnerative method that uses a travel trailer.

Introducing the caregivers and staff is an important part of the care to teach them proper daily care and observatin of mouth health symptoms. 

Root canals and extractions are not typically handled at home, but cleanings and minor care can be handled by these mobile teams.  Topical and injectable anesthetics are used normally.

Diabetes control and peridontal health are both improved with good dental care, and some insurance companies are considering dental care an important preventive care.  

Payment is not well reimbursed by state or senior funds for dental care.  Some patients use a "care card" to let seniors pay for the medical care without having to pay actual cash at the time of service.

Need for Dental Access

• In Los Angeles 61% of seniors do NOT have dental insurance.
• 31% of seniors have not had a dental exam in the last THREE YEARS
• 18% need but cannot afford dental care.

SOURCE:  "LA  County Senior Count" by Community and Senior Services of Los Angeles County
  

Southern California is served by Homecare Denstists: 
Website:  HomecareDentists.com