I recently took my mom for her annual cleaning, and the dentist informed me that Mom's teeth under the bridge are beginning to rot away. She suggested that we cut the bridge and pull out my nmothers 4 back teeth(upper) 2 on each side. My mother lives with me and has dementia, so I will not let let be put to sleep for the extractions, I am afraid she will wake up worse. My question is, my mother has no pain or problems from this yet, I want to wait until it bothers her if it ever does before subjecting her to losing her teeth. Is this wrong of me. Love her dearly but handling everything on my own (9 brothers and sisters forgot they have a mother) and I hate to disrupt her schedule. You know how unsettled they get with chance. Any opinions will be welcomed.
Thanks
did you not see your dentist for any follow up? If you still have pain and swelling over a month after the procedure then there may be an infection or some other problem that needs to be treated, make an appointment a soon as possible!
canot take anything but tylenol for pain should it be better by now
Dentist is erring on side of caution, He/she may feel her heart would not be strong enough to handle being put under while all teeth would be removed,plus he/she figures she probably does not have that much longer to live so best to leave well enough alone.
She also complains about food in her lower teeth but when I floss them there is nothing there. What is causing her to have the sensation of food in her teeth?
Good luck!
Assuming she's relatively stable mentally, I'd negotiate and see if she agrees to having them extracted. After all, it's her teeth we're talking about. If you keep putting it off infections will develop, Alz/Dem will have taken a heavier toll, and then you'll definitely have to put her under to have them pulled out.
Anyway you slice it, there's going to be pain and discomfort. Her cooperation -- if you can get it -- would make it more bearable for the both of you.
I would highly recommend getting a second opinion (see if you can find a dentist that deals with the elderly.) Or get a referral for a good prosthodontist (a doctor who does partials) and have her evaluated. Here is the website for the American College of Prostodontics: prosthodontics
The current thinking is that dentures are so hard to eat with, so if you have just one or two viable teeth, they can attach partials to them.
Mom has had hers now for 6 months and is doing well. They snap in and out very easily for cleaning. Of course, I still need to take her to the dentist for care of her remaining teeth and crowns.
Good luck...and you are correct not to rush into anything.
Second: I agree with you on the negative effects of anesthesia. After doing considerable research, I am convinced that this began the incredible decline of my mother (she was not in my care when she got her dentures, but stayed with me afterwards. I could not believe how 'disoriented' and confused she was for WEEKs afterward!
Third: peridontal disease can also cause many health problems too, from systemic infections to heart disease! Talk to her MEDICAL doctor about the pro's and con's of her dental problems and how best to help her.
Get a waterpik and dental rinse. Make it a 'fun experience' for her to use. These devices can keep the GUMS healthier and promote better dental hygiene. It was too late for my mother to safe the top teeth, but we kept the rest of her mouth as healthy as we could with dental rinses (PLEASE supervise the use, and even 'swish' along with her to help her do it correctly).
Please remember with our elders, the effects can be MORE pronounced. There are many other websites that offer conflicting information. Having had dental surgery myself, I recall my disorientation afterwards, and can only imagine how confused my mother was after her 'dental surgery!'
Be cautious, and talk to her doctor about the pro's and con's. God Bless.