The core services of Geriatric House Call Dentistry include emergency visits, second opinions, dental exams, teeth cleanings, small fillings, tooth extractions, non-invasive cavity treatment (no drilling), complete and partial denture fabrication, crowns (caps) and bridge repair, and teledentistry.

Yes, I have advanced training in treating all forms of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinsons diseases. In the case of the patient refusing to open, I have kind methods that always work. In the rare case that we cannot get the patient to comply, I work with an oral surgeon who is highly trained in geriatric sedation. Of course this is only used in the case of an emergency and as a last resort. And I always coordinate any surgical treatment with the primary care physician or nurse practitioner before starting.

NEVER try at home repair kits you find at the pharmacy or online. Once you touch them a lab will not agree to the repair. Hold on to the broken pieces and call me ASAP!!! I can definitely fix it. And NEVER use crazy or gorilla glue…or you will be throwing it out forced to get a new one.  This is a great service and the turn around period can be a day or a few days at the most.

This is almost like a new denture, and a great service if the dentures are loose or falling out during speaking or eating. The lining is soft and comfortable and alleviates the situation where the patient needs to get used to a new pair. This is a great treatment for the patient with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.  (A denture reline will not improve the aesthetics. If the aesthetics of your denture are a serious concern, a new denture should be considered).

Yes, extractions can be performed in the home, on dementia patients. Anesthesia via a very small needle numbs the area, and a personable and professional dentists performs this routine tooth removal.  The extraction site is packed with a special material to avoid pain and bleeding. Surprising as it may seem, extractions can indeed be performed on a dementia patient in a recliner or bed.

If you are worried that the proposed treatment your present dentist has given the homebound patient may not be what they can handle or absolutely need, we are happy to give you a second opinion. Sometimes, no treatment is the best treatment, and we can help you decide.

Patients deserve the best treatment that’s necessary for them, and oftentimes that takes a specialist who has experience working in this niche field.

A dentist can recement a crown or bridge on a tooth stub as long as if there is a non-decayed stub present. If a crown breaks with the tooth attached, it cannot be recemented.  If possible, we ask you to take a simple photo with your smart phone to give our dentists a better idea whether or not recementing is possible. There is no reason to waste a visit on bad news – alternatively, we may want to consider and explore the option of a tooth extraction for these scenarios.

There are few cases where the patient cannot be handled due to behavior issues or extractions that are too complicated or risky to do in the home. Together with an oral surgeon (highly trained to treat this delicate and frail patients) we treat these patients in the office under light and safe sedation (light sleep). It’s done quickly and safely and there is no waiting in a crowded waiting room. This is sometimes the only way to be safe and we never take chances that risk a possible complication.

Unfortunately, many of our dentists do not participate on any insurance plans due to coverage and the current laws.  However, we definitely will fill out the necessary paperwork for reimbursement from your private insurance plan if this is an option.

We are doing our best to play a role in healthcare reform and look forward to the day when the golden generation gets the coverage they need, and deserve.