“People are living longer and healthier lives. And older adults also are more likely to keep their teeth for a lifetime than they were a decade ago. However, studies indicate that older people have the highest rates of periodontal disease and need to do more to maintain good oral health.”
Research has proven that oral disease can lead to more serious health concerns, like infection, poor nutrition, heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease and diabetes. Currently, the elderly compose the highest growing portion of the nation’s population. That combined with the fact that health care costs, including dental, continue to rise leaves many seniors to make a choice between dental care, prescriptions, or even food. The elderly are in desperate need of affordable dental care in order to maintain good health. Our clinic reaches a segment of the senior population that is unable to afford mainstream dental care; yet is not at a financial level to have their dental care subsidized by the government. The services Geriatric Dental Group provides are necessary because seniors are at a higher risk for oral disease, which can significantly affect their overall health and quality of life. It is pertinent that they do attain dental care, restorative and preventative. Also, many of the elderly have physical, medical or other limitations, which require long-term, dependent care in nursing homes. Studies have shown that the quality of provided oral health care in these facilities is often below average. Geriatric Dental Group can concur with these findings, its staff views examples of poor oral care on patients residing in care facilities on a daily basis. Our staff continuously emphasizes the importance of oral health care to these care providers and regular visits by our staff help improve the situation.