Dr. Henry Mason, DMD is a General Dentist practicing at our Palm Bay, FL clinic, dedicated to providing compassionate, comprehensive dental care for older adults 65 years and older. He is registered with The Florida Board of Medicine and practices under the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice). General dentists play a vital role in the overall health of older adults, providing comprehensive oral care, managing age-related dental issues like dry mouth and gum disease, and collaborating with other healthcare providers to ensure optimal oral and overall well-being. Dr. Mason's 40+ years of experience in dental care, coupled with his medical degree from University Of Louisville School Of Medicine (1981) and fellowship training at University Of Louisville (1982), brings a wealth of clinical knowledge and compassionate care to his patients and their families. He is happily married, has five children, and enjoys coaching, golfing, scuba diving, and music. He is currently welcoming new patients; please call (321) 722-0155 to schedule an appointment. Because oral health is integral to overall health, Dr. Mason strives to provide the Palm Bay, Florida area with dental care that will help you enjoy a bright, beautiful smile for many years. We will work with you to develop a treatment plan that meets your immediate needs and establish preventative dental care that ensures your smile will last a lifetime! Dr. Henry Mason provides consultations primarily in English.
A cornerstone of effective senior care is a strong patient-provider partnership. Dr. Henry Mason is a vital partner in this journey, focusing on holistic strategies to protect health and enhance quality of life.
Dr. Mason is a dedicated partner in your senior's health journey, providing compassionate and comprehensive dental care tailored to their unique needs. He understands the vital connection between oral health and overall well-being, addressing age-related concerns like dry mouth and gum disease while collaborating closely with other healthcare providers for a holistic approach. Dr. Mason prioritizes patient comfort and actively involves families in the care plan, ensuring a supportive and personalized experience for every senior.
By working together, you, your family, and Dr. Henry Mason can create a clear, actionable plan that respects your individual needs and healthcare goals.
Specific Plans Accepted
DenteMax
Also Accepts These Carriers
- Aetna
- Ameritas
- Ameritas PPO
- Anthem
- Cigna
- Dental Choice DPPO
- Dental Complete DPPO
- Dental DPPO
- Dental PPO
- Dental Prime DPPO
- DentalConnect PPO
- DentalGuard Preferred
- Dominion National
- Guardian
- Humana
- Humana PPO
- Lincoln Financial Group
- MetLife
- PDP Plus (Preferred Dentist Program) DPPO
- Principal Financial Group
- Total Dental Administrators PPO
- Total Dental Administrators PPO PPO
- Total Dental DPPO
Effective management of health is key to well-being in later life. Dr. Henry Mason provides expert, compassionate care for a range of conditions common in older adults, with a focus on managing symptoms and maintaining function. Common areas of focus include:
- Canker Sore: If you're experiencing recurring or unusually large canker sores, it's important to consult your dentist, as they might indicate an underlying medical condition that needs attention, and your dentist can help identify the cause and provide effective treatment.
- Mouth Conditions: From simple toothaches to more complex problems like dentures that don't fit well, various mouth conditions can impact daily life; regular dental checkups are crucial for early detection and treatment to maintain oral health and reduce discomfort.
- Dental Injury: A dental injury, such as a chipped tooth or broken denture, can be painful and affect your ability to eat comfortably, but your dentist can repair or replace the damaged tooth or denture, restoring your ability to enjoy your favorite foods.
- Tender Gums: If your gums are tender to the touch, don't delay scheduling an appointment with your dentist. Early detection and management can prevent more serious dental problems.
- Tooth Damage: Tooth damage, such as chips, cracks, or cavities, can be repaired by your dentist to prevent further problems and help you eat comfortably.
- Sensitive Teeth: Experiencing discomfort or pain in your teeth when exposed to temperature changes or certain foods is a sign of sensitive teeth, a condition easily addressed by your dentist through various treatments that can restore comfort to your daily meals.
- Tooth Decay: As we age, our teeth can become more susceptible to decay, but with prompt treatment from your dentist, such as fillings or crowns, you can preserve your natural teeth and continue to eat and smile with confidence.
- Toothache: Experiencing a toothache? Don't suffer in silence; a prompt visit to your dentist can identify the cause whether it's a cavity, gum disease, or something else and provide effective pain relief and treatment.
- Broken Tooth: A broken tooth doesn't have to mean the end of comfortable eating. Your dentist can offer various solutions, from a simple repair to a more substantial restoration, depending on the severity of the break, ensuring you can continue enjoying meals.
- Gingivitis: Maintaining healthy gums is crucial as gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums, can be prevented or reversed with proper oral hygiene and regular dental visits, improving overall comfort and oral health.
- Swollen Gums: Dealing with swollen gums? It's important to address this promptly as it could indicate infection or gum disease, both treatable and preventable with proper care from your dentist.
- Receding Gums: While receding gums might seem like a small issue, addressing it promptly can help prevent more serious problems later on and maintain your overall oral health and comfort.
This list highlights some common health concerns and is for informational purposes. An accurate diagnosis and a personalized care plan can only be developed through a direct consultation with a qualified medical professional based on your specific health history.
To provide comprehensive and person-centered care, Dr. Henry Mason offers a range of services designed to diagnose, manage, and support the health of older adults:
- Amalgam Dental Fillings: Amalgam fillings, a type of tooth-colored filling, are a long-lasting solution to repair cavities and protect your teeth, helping maintain your overall oral health as you age.
- Upper Dentures: Upper dentures are removable replacements for missing upper teeth, improving chewing, speaking, and overall comfort for seniors.
- Abscess Incision and Drainage: This procedure helps manage severe dental infections by safely removing the pus buildup, allowing the area to heal properly and promoting overall oral health.
- Dental Inlays: Dental inlays are custom-made fillings that help restore damaged teeth, ensuring a strong and healthy bite for seniors.
- Denture Repair: Addressing denture problems promptly through repair helps avoid more extensive or costly procedures down the line.
- Dental Hygiene Services: Regular dental hygiene appointments help detect oral health problems early, allowing for timely intervention and improving the overall success of your senior care plan.
- Non-Surgical Gum Treatment: This treatment is a crucial part of your dental care plan, addressing gum inflammation and preventing further damage to teeth and gums.
- Root Planing: During a root planing procedure, your dentist carefully cleans the tooth roots to eliminate infection and inflammation, helping to diagnose and address the severity of gum disease.
- Teeth Whitening: Teeth whitening can brighten your smile and boost your confidence, enhancing your overall well-being as part of a comprehensive dental care plan.
- Ultrasonic Dental Cleaning: By removing plaque and bacteria with ultrasonic technology, this cleaning helps reduce inflammation and improve gum health, a vital aspect of your overall health journey.
- Root Canal: If you have a tooth with significant decay or injury, a root canal can be a key component of your comprehensive dental care plan to address pain and maintain oral health.
- Lower Dentures: Lower dentures are a practical solution to replace missing teeth and help maintain a confident smile and improved self-esteem in later life.
Service availability can change. To understand which services are appropriate for your specific health needs, please schedule a consultation to develop a personalized care plan.
All medical services are provided in accordance with the standard scope of practice for General Dentists in Florida.
Dr. Henry Mason is dedicated to partnering with older adults and their families to achieve their unique health objectives. The following examples illustrate how compassionate care can make a tangible difference in a patient's life:
- After consistent canker sore treatment, a senior was able to enjoy meals with their family again without discomfort, restoring a cherished tradition.
- After consistent dental care, a senior couple rediscovered the joy of savoring meals together without the discomfort of misaligned dentures.
- A senior woman, experiencing discomfort from a chipped tooth, found relief and comfort after a dental repair. She was able to enjoy her favorite foods again without pain, improving her overall well-being.
These scenarios are illustrative examples of positive health outcomes. Individual results vary and depend on many factors specific to each person. He will work with you to define and achieve your personal health goals.
- Primary Location:
Practice
3801 E Highway 98 Ste 100100, Port St. Joe, FL, 32456
Phone: (850) 229-5752
View on Map
- HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital Port St. Lucie (Residency Hospital)
- Jefferson County Medical Society Achievement Award, 1981
Here are answers to some common questions about Dental care with Dr. Henry Mason:
- How is dental health connected to my overall health, like my heart?
- Dr. Mason's practice emphasizes the crucial link between oral and overall health. Bacteria from chronic gum disease can enter the bloodstream, potentially increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and poorly controlled diabetes. Regular dental checkups and cleanings are vital for maintaining not only healthy teeth and gums, but also your overall well-being.
- My medications make my mouth constantly dry. Is this a dental problem?
- Yes, dry mouth (xerostomia) is a very common side effect of many medications, and it's a significant dental concern. Saliva is your body's natural defense against cavities, so dry mouth increases your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Dr. Mason can recommend special rinses, gels, and other strategies to manage dry mouth and protect your teeth.
- What is involved in an oral cancer screening?
- An oral cancer screening is a quick, painless part of your routine dental exam. Dr. Mason will visually inspect your mouth and throat for any unusual sores or changes and gently feel the jaw and neck for lumps. Early detection is crucial for successful treatment.
- Is it normal for my gums to bleed when I brush or floss?
- Healthy gums should not bleed. Bleeding is usually the first sign of gum inflammation, which can progress to more serious gum disease. This is often reversible with professional cleaning and improved daily oral hygiene, and Dr. Henry Mason can help create an effective and gentle home care routine.
- Why are my teeth becoming more sensitive as I get older?
- Tooth sensitivity in older adults is often due to receding gums, exposing the tooth roots. Years of brushing can also wear down enamel, making teeth more vulnerable. Dr. Mason can recommend desensitizing toothpastes, fluoride treatments, or check for other issues like cavities or cracked teeth.
- What is the difference between a crown and a filling?
- A filling is like a patch to repair a small area of damage, while a crown is like a cap or helmet that covers the entire tooth to protect and strengthen it when the tooth is significantly damaged, cracked, or has had a root canal.
- How should I be cleaning my dentures properly?
- To properly clean your dentures, remove and rinse them after every meal. Use a soft denture brush and a non-abrasive denture cleaner to clean all surfaces daily. Gently brush your gums, tongue, and roof of your mouth, and soak your dentures overnight in a denture solution or water.
- My dentures don't fit as well as they used to. What can be done?
- Dr. Mason's practice understands that changes in jawbone and gum shape over time can affect denture fit. We offer a relining procedure to reshape the denture base for a more comfortable fit, or we can create a new denture if necessary. A proper fit is important for comfortable eating and speaking.
3420 Bayside Lakes Blvd SE
Palm Bay FL 32909
Phone: (321) 722-0155
Dr. Henry Mason, DMD is regulated by the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice) in Florida and is licensed by The Florida Board of Medicine.
National Provider Identifier (NPI): 1588725816
Registration can typically be verified through The Florida Board of Medicine website or by direct inquiry.
The information on this profile, provided by infoaging.org, is for general informational purposes and to help you connect with healthcare partners for yourself or a loved one. It does not constitute direct medical advice from the provider named. General Dentists like Dr. Henry Mason are skilled in helping seniors and their families navigate their health journey. For urgent or life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. Always consult with a qualified medical professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your care plan.