by: Dr. Greg Grillo (dentably.com)
A mobile dentist is a dentist who provides access to in-home dental care to someone who may otherwise not be able to visit a dental office. A dentist may have a mobile dental clinic of their own or it may be a service offered at one’s dental office. I have been practicing dentistry for 17 years and believe everyone should have access to high-quality dental care. Unfortunately, this access is becoming a major problem facing dentistry today. Because of this, mobile dentistry has been on the rise. Having a mobile dentist visit one’s home can be especially beneficial to aging individuals who may have a hard time getting to a dental office. Here’s why.
- Save time
Mobile dentistry can be beneficial to maintaining good oral hygiene as you get older. As one ages, there are other health-related ailments that an individual might suffer from. Because of this, oral hygiene can, unfortunately, take a back seat. In fact, according to the American Dental Association, one out of every five people over the age of 75, haven’t seen a dentist in the past five years. This is concerning because along with other health-related issues, there are many dental concerns among senior citizens.
In order to continue having a healthy mouth, a mobile dentist is very beneficial. Since mobile dentists visit the individuals home, scheduling a mobile dentist can save caretakers time by not having to drive to the dental office. Mobile dentists will also often visit senior care communities and service many patients at once. Eliminating the time and stress of finding transportation makes it much easier for senior citizens to receive dental care.
- Dental emergencies
Dental emergencies are a serious concern among senior citizens. Individuals over the age of 60 are more prone to dental conditions such as cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss. As mentioned before, access to transportation makes it difficult for the elderly to receive the dental care they need. If someone experiences a dental emergency, there may be no way for them to receive care which can lead to potentially life-threatening situations. This is where mobile dentistry might be useful. Like regular dental clinics, most mobile dentists have available on-call emergency hours. Having a dentist available to visit a patient’s home when they experience a dental emergency could save their life. This is why mobile dental clinics are important.
- Other mobile health care providers
There are other mobile healthcare services that many doctors provide for the elderly. Podiatrists, x-ray services, and even primary health care providers often have mobile services for senior citizens and senior communities. It’s essential that individuals are still able to receive the care they need and it can be stressful for caretakers to schedule and provide transportation to various appointments. With mobile health care providers, it can be much easier for seniors to receive care. That’s why more and more health care offices and businesses are providing mobile services to patients.
As one ages, it is essential to their overall health and well-being that they continue to receive dental care and practice good oral hygiene in their home. The reason many senior citizens don’t seek dental care from a dentist is it’s not easily accessible to them. However, with mobile dentistry, a dentist can visit their home and provide them with treatment. This makes it much easier for aging individuals to receive the dental care that they need.