If you only look at online trends, you may think aesthetic dental work is just for the young. Images from social media and AI chatbots tend to depict youthful faces with pretty grins. Even so, you mustn’t make a hasty judgment; you’re never actually too old for cosmetic dentistry. Adults of all ages – including the most elderly – can receive smile-transforming dental treatments. If you want to learn more, let your Portland dentist explain things in the summary below.
Cosmetic Dentistry Has No Age Limit
While popular among younger folks, cosmetic dentistry isn’t only for teens, twenty-somethings, or thirty-somethings. The field will gladly treat elderly adults; it has no upper age limit. In other words, a dentist can beautify your smile whether you’re 70, 80, 90, or even older.
Really, the only requirement in cosmetic dentistry is that you have decent oral health. Issues like cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss can interfere with an aesthetic treatment. Given that fact, older patients will need to address their prior smile problems before they get cosmetic care. Their aesthetic treatment results will likely fail otherwise, forcing them to “re-do” their procedures.
Senior-Friendly Cosmetic Dental Options
Since cosmetic dentistry has no age limit, many senior-friendly aesthetic dental options exist. Some of the most notable ones include:
Teeth Whitening
Being non-invasive, teeth whitening is a fine procedure for seniors. Its bleaching gel is inherently mild and adjusted to suit the patient, and it lacks any toxicity. Older patients can thus receive it without any trouble, assuming their enamel is sturdy and stable. They’ll then sport a smile that’s six to eight shades brighter.
Dental Bonding
As with teeth whitening, dental bonding is also a good option for older adults. The treatment relies on a non-toxic, tooth-colored resin that won’t harm a patient’s teeth. Therefore, the bonding process won’t hurt a senior’s grin; it’ll just hide stains, chips, cracks, and more.
Veneers
If an older patient is free of cavities, they can easily get quality dental veneers. The shells won’t cause complications for seniors, though their placement does remove some enamel. Any post-treatment sensitivity is also temporary, fading within a few days at most.
No patient is too old for cosmetic dentistry, so don’t put off treatment. See your dental provider soon for an aged-but-beautiful smile!
About the Practice
Belmont Family Dentistry is based in Portland, OR. Led by Drs. Yoon, Tinkle, and Callan, our practice wants the absolute best for every patient’s smile. This desire leads us to offer a wide range of dental services, like preventive, cosmetic, restorative, and even emergency treatments. Whatever you want for your grin, our team is sure to have and provide it! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (503) 234-1218.