New dental treatment may benefit special needs and elderly patients

A tooth-whitener may benefit elderly and special needs patients, according to findings published in the Journal of the American Dental Association.

While typical dental treatments prove beneficial for most patients, they can be more difficult for mentally challenged individuals and older people with poor eye sight. If these patients aren’t able to use standard preventative treatments, they can become at risk for dental complications and other health issues.

When it was first developed, carbamide peroxide, the tooth-bleaching compound was used to remove plaque, kill bacteria and improve the mouth’s pH level, which protects against enamel degeneration and cavities. Today, oral hygiene specialists use it to whiten teeth.

Dentists have found that the use of a custom-made mouth tray that can worn during the day or at night and carbamide peroxide gel may help these patients take better care of their teeth.

“Tray bleaching can be a very effective supplemental method of oral hygiene for patients facing greater challenges keeping their mouths clean,” said David Lazarchik, associate professor in the Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine.

People with special needs or eye sight problems who have little or no dental insurance coverage can benefit from applying for discount dental plans. Signing up for a plan can help patients see a dentist on a regular basis and receive preventative services.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 5th, 2010 at 9:14 am and is filed under Oral Health Topics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.