NEW Free Denture Hygiene Program
Nihon University School of Dentistry Study
A study from the Nihon University School of Dentistry in Japan looked at the associations between oral health behaviors and the rate of pneumonia in communal living situations of those 85 years and older. The focus of the study was areas that could be modified.
The study was very comprehensive, using 524 randomly selected seniors with the average age being 87.8. They evaluated oral health status and oral hygiene behaviors, as well as gave medical assessments, including blood chemistry analysis. They followed up with each senior annually until the first hospitalization or death occurred from pneumonia. This long-term study followed the seniors for three years, and during the study, 48 pneumonia-associated events occurred. Of those 48 events, 20 participants died and 28 were in acute care at the hospital. Among the 453 denture wearers, 40.8% (186 wearers) wore their dentures while sleeping and were at higher risk for pneumonia than those who removed their dentures at night. The study also revealed some other interesting contributing factors. Both perceived swallowing difficulties and overnight denture wearing were independently associated with approximately 2.3-fold higher risk of the incidence of pneumonia, which was comparable with the high risk attributable to cognitive impairment, history of stroke, and respiratory disease!
Among the 453 denture wearers, 40.8% (186 wearers) wore their dentures while sleeping and were at higher risk for pneumonia than those who removed their dentures at night.
When your dentures are new, they are highly polished and difficult for bacteria and food to find a place to hold on. Over time, as they are used, they become scratched by food and other abrasive particles in food. These scratches provide a place for bacteria to attach themselves and colonize your denture. Brushing your denture after every meal helps reduce the amount of bacteria; however the denture is still colonized and the colony simply begins to grow again. The only way to actually remove the bacteria from your denture is to repolish your denture, removing the scratches the bacteria and food are holding onto.
New Holt Denture Clinic Hygiene Program
At the Holt Denture Clinic, we are committed to the long-term health of our patients. When we became aware of the Japanese study, we tried to figure out a way to incorporate a denture hygiene program into our practice; however no insurance companies we are aware of cover prophylactic hygiene and few patients seem to be willing to pay for the service. We then realized that there was an exposure opportunity. Instead of spending money on conventional advertising, we would divert the funds allocated to print and internet advertising and spend that money on a free denture hygiene program! On the surface, the program is a win-win. The denture wearer gets free and improved hygiene care and Holt Denture Clinic gets exposure.
The program is a no cost/ no strings attached/ no pressure service, provided to any denture wearer who wishes to take advantage.
The purpose of the program is to improve the health of any denture wearer in exchange for the privilege of being considered as an option for any future services. The program is a no cost/ no strings attached/ no pressure service, provided to any denture wearer who wishes to take advantage. Simply, we pick up or you drop off your denture on hygiene day, we clean your denture and deliver them back to you. We collect your name and room number (or other info required) to make sure the right dentures make it back to the right person. That is it!
We take pictures when we pick them up and again when we drop them off, to protect ourselves. When we drop them off, you will be advised of any issues or recommended service. It is then up to you to have us or someone else to perform the work, or not.
Call (587) 352-6845 or submit a form to book an appointment and find out more!