Due to a lack of care and concern that dentists sometimes express towards their patients, many senior citizens avoid making any appointments to care for their teeth. Recently, studies have shown that this type of disrespect was the number one cause for the elderly not making any dental appointments – coming in as an even more significant reason that the expense of dental care. Poor patient care has been the subject of a number of studies involving the dental care habits of the elderly.
Most of us want our health care professional to listen attentively to their concerns and questions. This desire increases as we age. It’s also critical that you have a dentist who will fully disclose and explain care and treatment options, next steps, prevention, and side effects. In order for senior patients to keep receiving enough oral care, this is important to think about. If dentists and the dentist industry as a whole change the way they work with their older patients, they will be able to help these seniors get the dental care that they need.
It seems that just about every elderly person has their own horror stories to add when it comes to visiting the dentist. One such story is of a patient whose dentist told her to swallow the blood that was filling her mouth as the dentist pulled her tooth. She wears dentures today, and whose to say that if that dentist had taken proper care of her, that she wouldn’t still have her own teeth?
All patients, no matter their age like to be comfortable in the dentist?s office. Communication is the most important factor. Elderly patients will have a greater amount of trust for dentists who take the time to communicate completely with them.
Aging individuals just want the respect of being told what’s happening. Sometimes it can feel to them that others are doing things behind their back, as they see doctors and dentists more regularly now who typically can’t or won’t provide them with reasonable information. Better information should be available to these patients, especially when it comes to an area as important as the mouth.
For the most part, it takes something as severe as a toothache to drive elderly folks to a dentist. For this reason, many of the seniors that need to see a dentist because of oral problems never will. The only way to correct this problem is through educating the dentists and seniors alike.
Studies which explore the relationship between patient and dentist are not exclusive to senior citizens, however. Patients of all ages, regardless of race or geographical location, report some fear of seeing their dentists. Basically, the studies suggest that all people when visiting the dentist expect courtesy so they won?t be shaking when getting in the chair.
It is for THIS MAIN REASON that people everywhere, and of all ages, are FAR LESS LIKELY to see a dentists until they are in EXTREME AGONY! If more people are to keep their check ups on a regular schedule, the great importance of good doctor and patient relationships must be emphasized. All their patients must be treated with the same care and respect, a fact which dentists must keep in mind.
Another step that can be taken is through the community spreading the awareness of the essential need for oral health. Governments and local businessman, no one is immune to responsibility to help spread a positive message regarding dental care. Starting from the time when they are children, people of all ages should be exposed to the message of how critical it is to receive proper dental care.
The condition of your gums and teeth has an impact on the rest of your body. No one really likes seeing their physician either, but we go ahead and schedule our routine visits. It’s this same trudging forward that needs to happen with our dentists as well. Targeting older individuals who desire an active lifestyle could begin to breech the mindset of avoiding the dentist.
Wouldn’t it be refreshing to see an elderly woman proudly displaying her own teeth? When he proceeds to tell you that he really appreciates all that his dentist has done for him, with care and devotion, then we’ll know that the health care system is on the right track. Dentists PLEASE head these simple studies, and start showing your patients the level of care and compassion that YOU like to have when YOU have a medical or dental concern!
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