Oral Surgery for Seniors
Oral surgery can help seniors enjoy restored oral health and improved dental function. Senior patients will need to undergo a dental examination and be healthy enough to undergo surgery before oral surgery can be considered. Some of the most common types of oral surgery seniors may require include:
- Tooth Extraction: Severely damaged or decayed teeth that are not healthy enough to treat with dental fillings, porcelain crowns, or other restorative treatment often require extraction to restore oral health. Tooth extraction is the surgical removal of a tooth and may be performed using a local or general anesthetic.
- Dental Implants: Seniors with one or more missing teeth may benefit from dental implant treatment. Dental implants are small, screw-like posts surgically placed within the jaw and used to anchor different types of dental restorations within the mouth. Dental crown restorations may be paired with dental implants to replace individual teeth, implant-supported bridges may be used to replace multiple teeth, or implant-supported dentures may used to replace a full upper or lower arch of teeth.
- Bone Grafting: To place dental implants, a bone graft may need to be performed, especially for those who have experienced long-term tooth loss. This is because the jawbone atrophies, or loses density when teeth are lost. A bone graft can be used to rebuild the jawbone and allow for dental implant placement. Bone tissue may be taken from the patient’s own body or a donor, or synthetic material may be used.
Candidates for Oral Surgery
Each type of oral surgery has its own risks and side effects. Therefore, determining candidacy for specific oral surgery requires a thorough dental examination and full disclosure of medical history and medications. Elderly candidates for oral surgery must be in good general health and free of any serious medical conditions such as heart problems and uncontrolled diabetes. In addition to being in good health, older candidates for oral surgery include those who:
- Have lost one or more teeth
- Have severely damaged or decayed teeth that cannot be preserved
At Cary Family Dental in Cary, NC we offer dental implants. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Allan Acton today.
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