As Michigan’s oldest and largest professional dental organization, we often get asked, “How do I find the best dentist for seniors near me?” Our simple answer is “with our easy-to-use Find-A-Dentist tool.”
The Michigan Dental Association and its member dentists believe people of all ages should have access to quality dental care. We make it easy for anyone to search for and find an MDA dentist. Use our Find-A-Dentist tool to find skilled dentists committed to treating seniors and staying up-to-date on the latest dental care advances.
Why Dental Care Matters for Seniors
As we age, maintaining our oral health becomes increasingly essential for maintaining our overall health. Preventive dental care, including regular dental check-ups, routine dental cleanings, oral cancer screenings, and prompt treatment at the first sign of dental diseases, protects more than your smile. Preventive dental care protects your overall health by stopping painful dental diseases and oral infections from interfering with your overall well-being.
Oral Health Concerns for Seniors
Certain dental conditions like gum disease, cavities, tooth loss, and oral cancer become more common as we get older. Treating and managing these dental diseases can also become more complex with age. Pre-existing conditions like heart disease (and high blood pressure), diabetes, cancer treatment, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia can interfere with healing time and make dental treatment more challenging. These same conditions can leave you more susceptible to developing dental diseases. That’s why having an excellent general dentist who takes the time to consider your overall health and unique treatment needs is so important for seniors.
Matching Seniors with MDA Member Dentists
We know “best dentists for seniors near me” is more than a search for geographic matches. It’s a search for a dental care professional who shares your commitment to your health. It’s about finding a dentist who will work with you to help you maintain or reach your oral health goals. After all, your general dentist should feel like a partner in your health.
As the state’s leading connection to all things oral health, the Michigan Dental Association is here to connect you with qualified general dentists and dental specialists in your area. MDA dentists are experts who understand seniors’ unique dental needs. They take the time to get to know you, providing personalized care and treatment plans around your needs.
Finding a General Dentist for Seniors Near You
The MDA’s Find-A-Dentist tool is an invaluable resource designed to simplify your search for the “best dentists for seniors near me.” With just a few clicks, you can find a directory of dental professionals in your area committed to providing quality care for seniors. Every dentist who appears in an MDA Find-A-Dentist search is an MDA member dentist, which means they are held to the highest professional standards. All MDA dentists prioritize patient care and complete extensive continuing education courses every year.
How to Use the Find-A-Dentist Tool
Our online Find-A-Dentist tool is user-friendly, fast, and free to use, ensuring your search for dental care is as stress-free as possible. With one search, you’ll locate all the matching MDA dentists in your area, complete with everything you need to contact their office: phone numbers, office hours, location, and dental practice websites.
Click on the tool to get started:
- Insert your address or zip code.
- Narrow your search location: within 10 miles, 25 miles, 50 miles, or the whole state.
- Choose from the list of specialties; for a primary general dentist, choose “General Practice.”
- Hit the search button.
Understanding the Find-A-Dentist Results Page:
- You will see a page listing all your area’s qualified MDA member dentists.
- Each tile includes the dentist’s name, dental office phone number, address, and distance from your location.
- For more on any dentist listed, from office hours to where they went to dental school to languages spoken, click the “more details button” to see their profile.
What to Look for When Searching for a Dentist for Seniors
You will find more information about each dentist on their profile. Some may include details about dental insurance plans accepted or include dental issues they treat; others may leave that information on their practice’s websites. Click those practice links to learn more about the dentist, their dental care team, and their practice. You may also call the dentist’s office and discuss any questions about becoming a new patient, dental insurance plans, and any other unique treatment needs with their helpful staff.
Finding Dental Specialists for Seniors
Just like with physicians, dental medicine has specialties and subspecialties. For instance, if you break your arm, your primary care physician will refer you to an orthopedist to tend to your bone break. Similarly, if you need a root canal, your general dentist will refer you to an endodontist specializing in saving teeth.
How to Find Dental Specialists for Seniors Near Me
If you have an existing dental complication or have been told to see a specialist by your general dentist, the MDA can help you find the dental professional you need to see. The “specialty” category feature in the Find-A-Dentist tool makes it easy to search by specialists in your area.
Here are some common specialists that treat dental complications in seniors.
- Periodontics: a periodontist is a dentist who specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating periodontal disease (gum disease).
- Prosthodontics: a prosthodontist is a dentist who restores missing teeth and treats jaw disorders, including fitting dentures, dental prosthetics, and dental implants.
- Oral Surgery and Maxillofacial Surgery: oral and maxillofacial surgeons are dentists who perform surgeries on the face, jaw, and mouth, ranging from tooth extraction to jaw reconstruction. Their specialization involves identifying and treating diseases that affect both hard and soft tissues in the mouth and face region, including oral cancer.
- Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics: an orthodontist or dentofacial orthopedist diagnoses, prevents, and treats dental and facial irregularities, including problems caused by missing teeth.
These dentists have advanced training in their area of practice beyond dental school. Depending on their focus, they may have completed additional degrees and residency programs and hold board certification in their specialization.
Get Started, Find the Best Dentists for Seniors Today
Finding the best dentists for seniors, one who understands your unique needs, one you can trust to care for your smile, and one conveniently located nearby, can help you take charge of your oral health and protect your overall health. Give our Find-A-Dentist tool a try and discover the difference an MDA dentist can make. With the MDA on your side, finding quality dental care for seniors has never been easier.