How to Help Melbourne Seniors With Dental Care

For Melbourne seniors, oral health isn’t just about maintaining a nice smile. Many seniors have trouble eating enough food, and that’s partly due to pain or discomfort, which proper dental care can mitigate. Oral health is also closely connected with general health—in fact, it’s linked to conditions like pneumonia and heart disease.

However, seniors often struggle to care for their teeth. Loss of coordination, joint or mouth pain and memory issues can all make everyday oral hygiene challenging, while reduced mobility and dental anxiety can make it hard for them to get to the dentist.

Fortunately, there’s a wide variety of resources to help Melbourne seniors overcome these barriers and get the dental care they need. 

Oral Health Options for Melbourne Seniors

From expert dentists and oral surgeons to community resources that make dental care affordable, there are plenty of options in Melbourne to help older people with their oral health. Here are some of our favorites:

1. Find the Right Dentist for Them

Many seniors have had their views of dental care shaped by a bad experience early in life, so they quite understandably avoid trips to the dentist—and many feel discouraged about oral hygiene in general. This can make it hard for them to find the motivation to brush, floss or engage in other types of oral care.

While those negative attitudes have deep roots, they’re not set in stone. If your loved one struggles with anxiety and shame around dental care, one of the best ways to help is to find them a dentist who makes them feel comfortable. In addition to putting them at ease during examinations and procedures, a dentist they like can provide the encouragement and positive motivation they need to understand that everyday oral hygiene is worthwhile. In fact, dentists who prioritize a warm and empathetic connection with their patients have been shown to get better oral health outcomes.

Here’s the good news: One of the kindest dentists we know is actually a pillar of the local community. Aside from her years studying at the University of Florida, Dr. Lie-Ying Periu of Periu Family Dentistry has lived in Melbourne her entire life. With a warm, steady presence and conservative, thoughtful dental style, Dr. Periu sets patients at ease by avoiding unnecessary risks, listening to their questions and helping them understand what’s going on.

2. Find a Trusted Oral Surgeon

Good oral hygiene and proper dental care are key parts of oral health, but they’re not always enough. Serious dental issues can arise from aging and lack of care, but they can also be a result of injuries or illnesses.

Because seniors are more prone to every kind of serious dental issue than younger people, it’s best to find a trustworthy oral surgeon your loved one feels comfortable with before they need it. That way, they won’t find themselves in an unfamiliar situation with strangers in the event of an emergency. Especially if they have dental anxiety or memory loss, a familiar, trusted face can make dental emergencies a lot more bearable.

There’s no oral surgeon in Melbourne we trust more than Dr. Andrew Langston of Viera Oral Surgery. Dr. Langston has nearly 15 years of experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery, and he’s deeply familiar with oral health issues common in seniors. He and his staff know how important it is to ensure patients are on board with every aspect of their care, and they take the time to listen to patients’ concerns, walk them through the process in advance and provide constant encouragement and reassurance.

Dr. Langston is also thoroughly engaged in the community. In addition to his professional work, he donates his time and expertise to organizations like Mission of Mercy (MOM) and Regional Area Medical (RAM) to offer affordable dental care to underserved communities.

3. Reach Out to the Community

Dental care is crucial for older people’s health and well-being, but it’s not affordable for every senior who needs it. That’s why Melbourne offers a wide range of social services and resources to break down any financial barriers that might get between your loved one and the dental care they need. Here are just a few options:

• Donated Dental Services (DDS): This program provides free comprehensive dental care to seniors, disabled people and other individuals in the community who couldn’t otherwise afford it. It works entirely through the generosity of expert volunteers: Dentists in the Florida Dental Association who donate their time and equipment to ensure everyone has the care they need.
• 221 Brevard: 221 is a community helpline that Brevard County residents can call when they need key non-emergency services like financial assistance, medical treatment or dental care, but don’t know where to turn. The helpline’s care coordinators will listen to you, help you make a plan and connect you with resources that can get your loved one the care they need. 
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs): These are not-for-profit health clinics that offer affordable sliding-scale rates on a wide variety of services, from medical and psychiatric care to dentistry and oral surgery. They also offer non-emergency medical transportation to help seniors get to and from their appointments. Brevard Health, our local network of FQHCs, operates a number of facilities in and around Melbourne, many of which offer dental care.
• Mission of Mercy (MOM) events: Mission of Mercy is an organization that sets up large-scale, free dental clinic events for Floridians in need in different parts of the state. With their upcoming event scheduled May 15-16 in Jacksonville, it’s a great time to start planning your trip.

Caregivers Can Help With Oral Health

With kind dental professionals creating a sense of comfort and calm and community organizations removing financial barriers, good oral health for seniors is more attainable in Melbourne than it might seem.

If transportation, logistics or other issues are making dental care more difficult for your loved one, a professional caregiver from FirstLight Home Care of Melbourne can help. Our caregivers can handle nearly every aspect of dental care that doesn’t require a degree, whether it’s helping them brush and floss, taking them to the dentist or giving them a trusted companion while they wait.

To learn more about how we can help with seniors’ dental care, contact us today.