My mother is 82 years old and very frail. She’s been losing teeth because she hasn’t been caring for them. It has more to do with her Alzheimer’s than her lack of hygiene. She thinks she’s brushed them but she hasn’t. We had her move in with us this year. We’d lived a few states away and didn’t realize how bad it became. Her dentist wants her to extract her teeth and get dental implants. I don’t like that idea. She’s too frail and surgery will terrify her in her current state of mind. Please tell me there are alternatives.
Amy
Dear Amy,
There are definitely options and your mother’s dentist was ethically obligated to share them with you. The fact that he didn’t AND that he suggested an unnecessary procedure which would be a hardship for your mother, makes me quite angry.
While if you were using your teeth, dental implants would be very important. This is because when teeth are removed, your body begins to resorb the minerals in your jawbone. After ten or so years, there is no longer enough jawbone left for dentures to stay in place. This is known in dental circles as facial collapse.
Your mother is 82 years old. It is unlikely that she will get to the point that facial collapse is an issue. In your place, I would just get your mother complete dentures. Removable dentures.
Though, maybe given the lack of concern her current dentist has shown her, she might be better served by you getting a second opinion before doing anything else. It’s very possible that her teeth are not in as bad as condition as her dentist said. It’s best for her if they can be saved.
This blog is brought to you by an expert implant dentist in Libertyville, Dr. David Potts.