Dental needs change with age, and not only because teeth wear. Gums recede and expose root surfaces that decay far more easily than enamel. Many common medications reduce saliva, and a dry mouth loses much of its natural protection against decay and gum disease.
Treatment also has to account for the rest of your health — the medicines you take, conditions you are managing, and how long you can comfortably sit in a chair. We plan around that rather than treating your mouth in isolation.
What treatment involves
- 01
A fuller history
We go through your medical conditions and current medications before examining anything. Several common prescriptions affect saliva, bleeding, or bone healing, and that changes what treatment is appropriate.
- 02
Examination and prevention
We check the exposed root surfaces where decay tends to start, assess gum health and any existing dentures or crowns, and screen the soft tissues.
- 03
Treatment at a manageable pace
Where work is needed we plan it in sessions you can tolerate, and we tell you plainly when leaving something alone is the better option.
Good to know
- A dry mouth is worth mentioning even if it seems minor — it is one of the strongest predictors of decay in later life, and it is usually manageable.
- Bring an up-to-date list of your medications, including anything bought over the counter.
- Dentures need periodic relining as gums and bone change shape; a denture that has become loose is not something you have to live with.
- If getting to the clinic is difficult, tell us when booking so we can arrange a slot that gives you more time.