House calls are not history! Let us bring the dental office to you and your family

Dr. Roya Shoffet and her team at Royal Dental Practice intimately understand that individuals with physical and mental challenges to getting necessary dentistry services have unique needs. Caring for the needs of seniors and others with impaired mobility and conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia requires a unique set of skills, too. 

Dental care at home meets geriatric dentistry expertise

Dr. Shoffet provides considerable peace of mind to these patients and their families from across the West Hills area and Greater Los Angeles, California. They know their loved one is in good hands with Dr. Shoffet, an accomplished and experienced dentist whose more than 30-year career has been defined by a passion for and partnerships with older patients. These patients are often facing many chronic disabilities and conditions. In fact, the National Institute of Health reports that ~80% of American seniors are living with chronic disease, with almost 70% of those seniors diagnosed with two or more chronic conditions. 

Often, these patients’ oral health needs can take a backseat. It is essential to continue prioritizing the routine and preventative dental services that are integral to everyone’s overall health and well-being. Yet, the stakes are even higher as we age and develop “comorbidities.” These dual illnesses (and the medications prescribed to treat them) can challenge our oral health and increase our risk of oral disease. They can also be affected by existing, untreated damage to the teeth, gums, and mouth.

Research led by the National Institute on Aging has found that the mere presence of bacteria associated with gum disease is also associated with the development and progression of Alzheimer’s and related dementias, especially vascular dementia. Such bacteria do not “stay put” in the mouth; they can pass through the blood-brain barrier and travel to the brain arteries, contributing to the build-up of amyloid beta. In healthy brains, these small molecules are a normal part of brain function; however, among individuals with Alzheimer’s and related cognitive disease, they can accumulate and injure the blood vessels in the brain. 

Even among seniors residing in top-notch assisted living, senior communities, memory care, and other facilities, their staff are generally not equipped to care for the often considerable and competing dental and oral health needs of older residents. Likewise, in-home caregivers often do not have the tools and knowledge to safely and effectively care for potentially serious oral problems. Yet, those with mobility issues and cognitive decline may not be able to adequately care for their mouths themselves. So, any underlying issues only become worse without treatment. 

It is not unusual for Dr. Shoffet to help seniors who may have been suffering for some time with numerous broken, infected, and aching teeth, bleeding gums, and terrible mouth odor. She empathizes with these patients and their families, and it is her privilege to provide non-judgmental and quality care. She gets them back to feeling better and eating comfortably again. Perhaps most important of all, it is extremely rewarding for Royal Dental Practice to restore their basic human dignity. 

We all deserve to have a healthy mouth and a proud smile, regardless of the complexities of our situation and our overall health status. As noted, maintaining and restoring good oral care contributes favorably to managing other medical conditions and diagnoses. We can add quality years to their lives. 

Supporting overall health and well-being through dentistry

And while these benefits of dental care at home or mobile dentistry services are priceless, we appreciate that family members may have many questions about this unique offering, including pricing. 

We emphasize that by having a seasoned dental team visit you or your loved one in-house, you avoid the considerable expense of medical transport to a facility. According to Los Angeles County government reports, non-emergency ambulance transport at its most basic level was billed at $2,024 (as of July 2023) to account for both equipment and personnel. 

Suppose your loved one’s untreated damage or condition has progressed to where it necessitates emergency care, and oral health problems often do turn into emergencies. In that case, the cost of ambulance transportation can soar to more than $3,200.

We have also not accounted for the perhaps less tangible yet critical consequences of having to resort to such an option; the stress that is placed on both the patient and their caregivers can take an emotional and physical toll. It can be quite bewildering, especially for an individual with dementia, to be treated in this manner – in a hurried fashion and an unfamiliar setting with unfamiliar people. It does not have to be this way. 

Dr. Shoffet and her team make it easy. We travel to your beside, whether that bedside is in Ventura, Torrance, Malibu, Pasadena, Santa Clarita – wherever you may be – and even if it’s a bit of our drive. We are incredibly fair in our pricing. Charges are transparent and depend on factors such as mileage/travel and the nature of the diagnostics and service we provide. We can also provide just about any service you or your family member would normally get at our dentist’s office – except oral surgical and major restorative dental work and therapies. For safety, we are also not equipped to provide bedside IV sedation; however, we are happy to discuss other options to keep mom or grandpa comfortable and relaxed. 

Since they are being cared for in their home, this dynamic already supports a stress-free, non-scary, pleasant, and comfortable experience. It also helps that our patients get to know Dr. Shoffet as a friend and not just a dentist. They become familiar with her and trust her. 

House calls are not history. They are alive and well, courtesy of Royal Dental Practice. 

Call our West Hills, Los Angeles, CA team at (818) 334-6655 for more information and to book an in-house visit with Dr. Shoffet.

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