Parodontitis in the elderly: how to adapt care and hygiene after 65 years | Dentistry study Stere
Parodontitis in the elderly: how to adapt care and hygiene after 65 years | Dentistry study Stere
Having more than 65 years does not mean having to give up the care of the gums. In the parodontitis of the elderly, the path must be adapted above all to general health, to daily autonomy and to the possibility of maintaining the results over time.
An autonomous person and a person who needs assistance can have the same age but very different needs. The plan should make the care feasible, preserve comfort and function and involve the patient in decisions.
This article explores how to adapt treatment and hygiene in the third age. For symptoms, diagnosis and general picture is available STERE guide on the periodontite.
Parodontite after 65 years: what changes
The periodontitis affects the tissues supporting the teeth and involves a loss of support. It is not simply a reddish gum and is not diagnosed by age. The history of the disease and the present conditions count more than one anographic threshold.
The European Federation of periodontology recommends considering dependence, fragility, comfort and quality of life in decisions on teeth preservation.
What factors can make management more complex
Pre-existing disease and bacterial deposits
An already treated periodontitis requires maintenance. Plate and tartar can accumulate in difficult to reach areas; jump controls can leave unnoticed important changes.
Manual, view and ability to organize the routine
Arthritis, tremors or visual difficulties can hinder cleaning. In the presence of cognitive problems, an agreed help may be required, preserving as far as possible the participation of the person.
General conditions and therapies
Diabetes, smoke and other conditions affect the evaluation. The updated list of medications and supplements helps to plan care and recognize unwanted interactions or effects; no therapy should be suspended independently.
Hard to use restorations and tools
Bridges, tilted teeth and irregular spaces can make some surfaces inaccessible. The solution is not to increase strength: you need to choose tools and gestures that the patient really can use.
Signals to be observed without attributing them only to age
Bloodening, swollen gums, persistently unpleasant breath, mobile teeth or discomfort during chewing deserve a visit. Recessions or changes can also appear in the spaces between the teeth. The NIDCR describes these signals and examinations used in periodontal diagnosis.
Those who assist the person may report new difficulties in cleaning the mouth or chewing, without formulating diagnosis. Growing pain, pus, swelling or fever require timely contact with the professional.
Ageing, radicular caries and periodontitis are the same?
No. Aging does not make teeth loss inevitable. Radicular caries damages the surface of the exposed root; the periodontitis damages the tooth support system. They may coexist, but require specific evaluations.
The document NIDCR Older Adults and Oral Health clarifies that gum disease is not an obligated destiny of the third age. For the distinct problem of the charitable root is available the article on radicular caries in the elderly.
How to prepare a useful parodontal evaluation
Bring the list of drugs, describe any pathologies and explain what daily gestures are difficult. It is useful to indicate who follows the cleansing of the mouth and what tools are used: concrete information help more than a generic "I always wash teeth".
The professional evaluates plaque, bleeding, pockets, recessions, mobility and dental support, integrating X-rays when indicated. The guide Aging and Dental Health of the American Dental Association highlights the importance of pharmacological anamnesis and physical and cognitive abilities in dental care.
How to adapt the path of care in the third age
A truly sustainable home routine
The plan starts from a practical demonstration. Easier grips, electric toothbrush or interdental tools can be evaluated according to manual and space, ensuring that the patient knows how to use them.
Professional treatment proportional to diagnosis
When indicated, non-surgical therapy removes deposits above and below the gum. Organization and duration of meetings must consider general conditions and tolerance. The most complex cases require an evaluation of the additional options.
Reassessment of the response
After treatment, bleeding, pockets and hygiene are compared with initial data. The EFP guidelines for periodontitis they propose a path by stages: a single session does not exhaust the management of the disease.
Maintenance adapted to changes
Calls are calibrated on risk and relived if health or autonomy change. When you need assistance, agree who helps and how to check the routine makes the plan more concrete, without replacing the person unnecessarily.
Daily hygiene and remedies to avoid
Maintain a regular and delicate cleaning of teeth and gum margin, with fluorated toothpaste and dental cleaning according to the indications received. If a movement causes difficulties, ask to adapt the instrument instead of abandoning the area.
Do not scrape the tartar with domestic objects, do not increase the pressure on the gums and do not use medicated clovers for undefined periods without indication. The collutory does not replace the removal of deposits. In the presence of swallowing problems, the mode of hygiene should also be agreed with professionals.
Care of the gums at Studio Stere di Lecce
At Studio Odontoiatrico STERE, Via Giovanni Boccaccio 19 C/D/E in Lecce, service is available. non surgical parodontology. Those coming from Lecce, Salento or Puglia can find information and contacts on studiostere.it and describe their needs before visiting.
Dr. Nicolò Stefanelli and Dr. Rosanna Renò have matured more than ten years of dental experience on the Italian territory; all the staff has in turn more than ten years of experience.
Any orthodontics with transparent aligners require a distinct evaluation and proper periodontal control. Dr. Lorenzo Garrisi is a specialist in Orthodontics and Invisalign Providers: the liners do not replace periodontitis therapy.
Frequently asked questions about periodontitis in the elderly
After the age of 65, is it too late to cure periodontitis?
No. Age alone does not exclude care. Objectives and methods depend on diagnosis, general conditions, autonomy and preferences of the person.
If I'm struggling to keep the toothbrush, can I just use the mouthwash?
No. It is necessary to adapt mechanical cleaning with more usable tools or an agreed help. The collutory does not remove the tartar.
Who hires many drugs can undergo treatment?
Often yes, with individual planning. The dentist must know the therapies; any changes are due to the professionals involved, never to the patient independently.
Should a family member always be present?
Not necessarily. Involvement depends on the needs and consent of the person. It can be useful to remember directions or assist in hygiene when necessary.
Do the controls have the same frequency for everyone?
No. The program is adapted to the response to treatment and the ability to maintain cleanliness, and updated if conditions change.
At Studio Odontoiatrico Stere you can find a complete range of preventive and curative dental treatments.
If you are looking for a dentist in Lecce to improve oral hygiene, prevent caries and gum inflammations or choose home products that suit your needs, the Studio Stere team can accompany you with a customized evaluation. Learn more about Scholarship. it and book your visit to control.
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Article written by Dr. Nicolò Stefanelli – Dentistry
"Take Care"
– Studio Stere –
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