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Why the best dental care is essential in long term care facilities
1. Oral Health Is Integral to Overall Health
As a care coordinator, you know that dental care is more than just cleanings and checkups — it’s a critical component of total well-being.
Research continues to show strong connections between oral health and systemic health. Untreated dental disease has been associated with complications such as:
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Heart disease
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Diabetes complications
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Malnutrition
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Chronic inflammation
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Aspiration pneumonia
The mouth can often reflect broader health concerns before symptoms appear elsewhere in the body, making oral health an important part of preventive and long-term care.
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The Mouth Is a Mirror of Systemic Health
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2. Long-Term Care Residents Face Unique Oral Health Risks
Many long-term care residents take multiple daily medications, and many of those medications can cause dry mouth (xerostomia). Reduced saliva significantly increases the risk of tooth decay, oral infections, swallowing difficulties, mouth sores, and denture irritation.
At the same time, age-related physical limitations can make daily oral hygiene increasingly difficult without assistance. As a result, dental issues often progress unnoticed until they begin affecting eating, sleep, communication, and overall comfort.
Poor oral health in long-term care populations has also been associated with:
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Increased hospitalization rates
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Chronic pain and infection
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Difficulty chewing and swallowing
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Weight loss and dehydration
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Reduced quality of life
That is why dependable, high-quality dental care is essential in long-term care environments.
Wondering whether your residents are receiving the level of dental care they need?
GET IN TOUCH
Tel. (818) 980 1200
info@onsitemobiledental.com
3575 Cahuenga Blvd W. Ste 300
Office Hours
Mon - Fri: 8am - 4:30pm
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