Cutting-Edge Technology in Phoenix: How Oral Surgeons Use Modern Dental Procedures to Treat Seniors - Health - Dental Care

For senior citizens living in Arizona's capital, Phoenix, the oral surgeons of a qualified dental practice can use the latest technologies available to alleviate their gum problems while minimizing the trauma they experience during the treatment. Laser dentistry can help promote the growth of new teeth, while dental implants can be used to provide a solution for tooth loss.

While only five percent of U.S. dentists have started offering laser dentistry procedures to their patients, in large cities in Arizona such as Phoenix, oral surgeons have begun making the technology more readily available to their patients.

Laser procedures have been used to remove benign tumors from a patient's mouth, and reshape gum and bone to promote the growth of healthy teeth. Laser dentistry can also be used to remove the soft tissue folds caused by dentures, which are commonly used by elderly patients. Because of the laser's accuracy, an oral surgeon will be able to focus only on affected portions of the patient's mouth. This makes the treatment less painful, with some procedures no longer requiring anesthesia.

These minimally invasive features make laser dentistry useful for treating senior patients who are unable to handle the shock of normal surgery, or may be taking medications that will alter the effects of the anesthetic. Laser dentistry also sterilizes the area and cauterizes the wounds it inflicts. This makes it safer for use with elderly patients with relatively frail health, since it minimizes their risk of contracting an infection while reducing their recovery time.

At least one in four senior citizens in Arizona including those in its capital city, Phoenix, will have suffered from pocketing, or bone loss in their jaws, as a result of severe gum disease. While most senior citizens normally replace missing teeth with a set of dentures, this solution might not work for everybody. There will be cases that the patient's mouth will be too small or irregularly shaped for any set of dentures to properly fit. Older individuals with tender gums may also find dentures to be too painful to wear regularly.

A set of dental implants directly attached to the patient's jawbone offers a more permanent solution to tooth loss, and has the added benefit of resembling a natural set of teeth. Before senior citizens can undergo this procedure, they must have their bone density examined first.

If their bone density is insufficient, the dentist can refer them to procedures that can help address the problem. For the elderly who comprise 8.1 percent of the total population of Phoenix, the oral surgeons of a capable practice can provide them with the accurate assessment and treatment needed to give them back their healthy smiles.

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At Dental Specialty Associates dental office in Phoenix, oral surgeons have access to the latest dental technology to help elderly patients benefit from healthier smiles. At their offices in Gilbert and Phoenix, dentists are also knowledgeable in a variety of specialized procedures including prosthodontics, peridontics, and orthodontics. For more information on their services, visit ArizonaDentalSpecialists.com or call 602-795-5995.