Is it always the best option to recommend permanent restorations and bridges to elderly patients? Many dentists and cosmetic dentists would tend to answer “yes,” but today’s practitioner needs to carefully consider the best interests of the patient.

Not every elderly patient will do well with the lengthy and sometimes grueling appointments required to perform permanent restoration. This is especially true if the patient is already suffering from health-related issues and might not be highly compliant. In these cases, a dentist may want to consider the application of much simpler interim appliances, which can preserve both aesthetics and function.

Also worthy of consideration is the fact that many seniors are on a fixed income.  They may not be able to afford extensive dental interventions. Here, too, less expensive interim appliances can provide a more preferable, useful solution, at least in the short term.