It Is Essential For Dentists To Treat Patients With Compassion
Article Source: HealthSnare.com
Have you talked to your grandmother lately? Do you have elderly parents? Know any senior citizens? Ask them when the date of their next dentist visit is. You may be shocked by the tales of disinterested treatment from the staff and dentist. After repeated incidents of galling practices, many of those advancing in age forego routine dental appointments to avoid enduring the humiliation. Even more of a consideration than the financial aspects, studies have demonstrated this factor is a major part of why senior citizens choose not to go see a dentist. When it comes to the attitude and dental hygiene of the older population, there have been many studies undertaken.
The results showed that the elderly look for a dentist that understands their concerns and takes the time to explain common procedures. If necessary dental care in the older population is an issue, this factor must be taken into consideration. Perhaps the dental care system needs to change its attitude towards older people.
Unfortunately, many elderly patients can tell a horror story or two about their dental visits. One such tale of terror came from a woman of advanced age who, while a tooth was extracted, was instructed by her dentist to just swallow her own blood! She chose to live with dentures rather than go through the panic she suffered that day in the dental chair.
Comfort is of primary concern to everyone when having their teeth taken care of. So what's the solution? Plain talk! Research indicates that elderly patients have more confidence in a dentist who talks to them plainly and politely, explaining exactly what is going on.
Like anyone else, the elderly members of our community like to be able to understand what is going on with their health. Sometimes it seems like medical professionals just charge ahead and start treating them, without really explaining what's going on during their many visits with physicians. When someone is working in your mouth, they are very close to you. It's very snug quarters. And you know yourself that pain in the mouth is more pronounced. It's important that someone elderly feel more educated.
Not surprisingly, with this type of care, they will typically only see a dentist when the physical agony can no longer be endured. This can cause major problems. That's because while 8 percent of the population may have dental pain, a staggering 64 percent will develop dental issues. This problem can only be solved through a learning process.
Unfortunately, the incidence of poor patient care is an issue that is not strictly limited to elderly dental patients. Patients of all ages, regardless of race or geographical location, report some fear of seeing their dentists. Essentially, this research expresses the fact that patients need to experience courtesy during their dental visits, which makes them calmer as they finally sit in the chair.
The significant fact revealed by surveys is that unless there is tooth-related pain which forces them to go, many people will simply neglect their oral health. Obviously, much "doctoring" is needed to mend this broken doctor / patient partnership before routine, preventative visits can resume. Let's face it - a "caregiver" that doesn't genuinely care for his patients is utterly USELESS!
Putting out an encouraging word about dental wellness must be a collaborative task amongst people in every neighborhood. Businesses and government alike can get on board with this cause. Starting from the time when they are children, people of all ages should be exposed to the message of how critical it is to receive proper dental care.
Stress should be placed on how dental health is directly related to overall health. We should take care of our mouths with the same vigor with which we care for the rest of our bodies and take measures to keep ourselves in top shape. This approach would be an excellent way to reach the senior citizens as well.
It is nice when you see an 85year old woman cheerfully pointing to her teeth. Using a dentist that respects their patients and treats them politely is a key part of keeping all of your teeth. It is up to every dentist to ensure that patients are treated sensitively and with respect.
About the Author
Article Submitted By:
Michael Bennett
Html View
Total views: 8
Word Count: 722
Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 Time: 10:29 AM
Publish/Share this article
To use this article on your site click here to get the HTML code |Remember: The article body, title, author bio and links may not be changed or removed. By publishing this article, you agree to all the terms in our Terms of Service.
Rating: Not yet rated
