Seniors Trust Local Dentist to Care for Their Teeth

Dr. Krupa treats patients of all ages in his dentist office.  Seniors have come to trust that he will provide dependable advice and solutions to all of their oral health care needs.  Dentistry has improved significantly over the past several decades which have enabled more people to keep their natural teeth as they age.  Even with these advancements, around 70 percent of the U.S. adult population will experience some form of tooth loss.  This makes regular teeth cleanings and working with an expert important.

Seniors can suffer from a variety of oral health issues.  When adult teeth first come in they are strong and full of enamel and other minerals.  As people age their teeth go through the process of demineralization where teeth start to lose their strength.  Regular teeth cleanings, fluoride toothpaste, and a specific diet can help put minerals back on teeth and make them stronger again.  Still, they are typically not as strong as when a person was younger simply due to the constant stress and strain that teeth experience. This makes them more susceptible to becoming damaged, cracked, or broken.

Another condition seniors often suffer from is dry mouth. This is where the body stops producing the saliva it needs to wash away bacteria naturally.  This can lead to bad breath that smells stale and an increased risk of cavities.  Patients with this condition can benefit from drinking more water and having their teeth cleaned at our dentist office on a quarterly basis in order to keep their breath smelling fresh.

Restorative Solutions

There are many restorative dentistry solutions that are available to people today.  Dr. Krupa is an expert at providing real solutions so that patients can continue to enjoy their life and the taste of their favorite foods.  He provides a variety of services including:

• Dentures.  This can be a temporary or permanent solution that can be completed fairly quickly.  Many patients prefer dentures because they don’t want to have oral surgery but need their appearance improved ASAP.  A full or partial set can be created and patients are on the road to recovery much faster.
• Dental Bridges.  A bridge is created when a crown is placed on the two teeth surrounding the missing one.  A bridge forms in between them and holds the new tooth in place.
• Dental Implants.  In this procedure, a metal piece is inserted underneath the gums and secured to the jawbone.  The implant needs time to heal and once it does a new tooth is attached that will look and feel completely natural.

There are many ways that Dr. Krupa helps patients restore teeth that have become damaged or fallen out but it starts with preventative care. As a local dentist, Dr. Krupa recommends that seniors have their teeth cleaned at least twice a year so that oral infections and gum disease can be prevented.  By keeping the teeth and gums healthy seniors have a greater chance of being able to keep all or most of their teeth throughout their lifetime.  This should be combined with a good oral hygiene routine at home.

Gary Krupa, a Sacramento Dentist, Treats Gum Disease

Did you know that your dentist can improve the health of your heart?  Scientists have found a direct link between gum disease and heart disease.  In fact, 91 percent of people with a heart condition also have unhealthy gums.  Since heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women, it is important to reduce risks wherever possible.  Having your teeth cleaned twice a year can help prevent gum disease and keep you in better health overall.

Gum disease is typically created when people have poor oral hygiene and lack of dental care.  This can include forgetting to brush and floss or skipping regular teeth cleanings.  Some people are naturally at an increased risk of getting gum disease, including diabetics, smokers, and people that use smokeless tobacco products.  Eliminating these habits and keeping blood sugar under control can help reduce the risk.

Dr. Krupa will look for signs of gum disease during regular dental exams.  Early detection is important because it allows him to treat the disease before it becomes painful and leads to other health issues. The first stage of gum disease is called gingivitis and the symptoms include swollen and red gums that may be sensitive or occasionally bleed.  They can be treated with a thorough cleaning at our dentist office.  In this procedure the bacteria are removed from on and under the gums.  Once the bacteria have been removed the gums can typically heal themselves and the symptoms will go away.  This is the best stage to treat the disease because the procedure can be done fairly quickly with minimal recovery time.

The advanced stages of gum disease create additional issues.  Gums typically start to recede and expose more of the tooth and even the roots which will make teeth appear longer or larger.  If the gums keep receding a pocket may form in the gum tissue. Bacteria can gather here and attack the tooth and roots to create an infection and potentially a dental abscess.  This can be painful and some people even lose their teeth at this stage.  In order to treat the condition the bacteria must be removed, the pockets closed, and the gums secured around the tooth.  This may be done with a gum graft or other procedure.  While more intensive, it may be necessary for protecting the teeth and roots.

Leaving gum disease untreated is not an option for people wanting to stay in good health.  As it continues to grow the health of your entire mouth is in jeopardy and as science has shown, so is your heart.  Additionally, pregnant women are at risk of going into pre-term labor when they have gum disease.  Even those who make it to full term may have a low birth weight baby.  Good oral health is important for both mother and baby during pregnancy and we help all of our patients stay in the best health possible.  Schedule a teeth cleaning and dental exam with dentist,  Dr. Krupa, so that he can prevent and treat gum disease before it creates major health problems.