Dr. Neville is a traveling, in home dentist who serves the aging community in and around Philadelphia Pennsylvania. She serves Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, and Bucks County as well. She has a day rate for those outside of her service area. View our Mobile Dentist Locations page to view all of the areas serviced by Geriatric House Call Dentistry.
To contact or learn more about Dr. Abby Neville visit her page here >
In this video, Dr. Kauffman and Dr. Neville explain two types of treatments they use to stop tooth decay in elderly patients with dementia.
Stopping and preventing tooth decay are two of the most important things we do at Geriatric House Call Dentistry. We often get calls from caregivers looking for a second opinion after being told that their loved one needs a lot of dental work to repair the advanced decay. Most elderly dementia patients aren’t able to sit for hours to get crowns, bridges, and fillings done, and many of our patients have physical impairments that prevent them from fully opening their mouths. Fortunately, there is a solution that requires no filling and no drilling.
ARREST Treatment Stops Tooth Decay in Its Tracks
When we make a house call for a patient that has extensive tooth decay, we want to stop that decay from advancing and causing infection. Tooth decay can be very painful, and it can lead to severe illness or death if left untreated. We use a silver diamond fluoride product called ARREST to stop decay in its tracks. Just a little dab on each tooth can prevent further damage. This type of treatment is really important and effective for our patients who can’t sit for restorative dental work. The only side effect is that this treatment causes the decay to darken, creating a cosmetic issue, but for most of our patients it is the best option for saving their teeth.
How Do We Treat Dry Mouth in Our Patients?
Another common problem we see with our patients is dry mouth. Many of our patients take medication that reduces their saliva production. Not only does this cause discomfort for the patient, but it can also lead to tooth decay. We use a product called All Day that promotes saliva production and keeps the teeth, tongue, and gums moist. Just a few squirts on the tongue will stimulate saliva production, and it’s safe to swallow, which is really important for our dementia patients who have a tendency to swallow toothpaste.
Contact Dr. Neville to Make an Appointment
Dr. Neville has 18 years of dentistry experience and uses her skill set to provide much needed dental care to the geriatric population in Philadelphia and surrounding areas. If your loved one is suffering from tooth decay or chronic dry mouth, contact Dr. Neville by calling or filling out the form online.
