An Overview of Dry Mouth and Cavities in Seniors

Visiting Ancillary Services in Denver, Colorado, is a not-for-profit organization providing dental and audiology support to seniors. Over the course of nearly eight years, Visiting Ancillary Services (VAS) has established itself as a service provider to more than 70 percent of the region's facilities serving the elderly.

After individuals reach the age of 60, they may notice a number of new health issues developing, including a few dental problems. Some of these issues may take a senior back to the time of their youth, such as an increase in cavities. The most prevalent cause of cavities in seniors is dry mouth, both a normal part of the aging process and a side effect of more than 500 commonly used medications.

For many seniors, avoiding or cutting back on medication is simply not an option, as the medications that can cause dry mouth treat asthma, high blood pressure and cholesterol, allergies, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, and many other conditions. There are, however, a few steps individuals can take in order to minimize the risk of dry mouth and a subsequent occurrence of cavities.

To start, individuals should discuss alternative medication options with their primary care physician. Assuming there are no alternatives, oral moisturizers are a great tool against persistent dry mouth. These over the counter products are sold in spray and mouthwash form. Seniors can also increase their daily water intake.

Additional steps range from chewing sugar free gum or using lozenges as a way of promoting saliva production to using a humidifier to keep a healthy level of moisture in the air. Seniors should also reach out to their dentist and discuss protective products such as fluoride gel and tooth varnish.

ASSR - An Objective Hearing Test for Unresponsive Patients

Visiting Ancillary Services is a Denver-based 501c3 charity that performs a host of vital community services for the elderly and vulnerable, including testing for and treating ear and dental issues. Often providing care within a nursing home environment, the Visiting Ancillary Services team has specific protocol in place for evaluating and assisting those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. 

Those who were previously deemed “untreatable” benefit from proprietary modalities such as electrophysiological testing. In assessing hearing loss issues, audiologists employ the Auditory Steady-State Response (ASSR) protocol, which is employed in generating statistically valid audiograms in cases where patients are not willing or able to take part in traditional testing. 

ASSR is a measure of bioelectric activity taken through electrodes that deliver acoustic stimuli. The sound stimuli are repeated at a fast rate, with peak detection spanning a spectrum of inputs. The resulting waveforms are then carefully examined by the examiner for presence of a response. 

Primary ASSR candidates include infants, including those in neonatal intensive care units, and adult patients who are comatose or unresponsive. In addition, the tests may be performed in situations where patients are not cooperative for legal or other reasons. The objective, statistics-based foundation of ASSR makes it ideal for accurately defining a patient’s actual hearing capacities.