Does My Elderly Mother Really Need Dental Implants?
Posted by writeradmin
My mother is 87 years old and has not been doing well. Because of that she hasn’t been taking care of her teeth. We came here to check on her because she didn’t sound okay during our last phone call. My brother was supposed to be taking care of her but we don’t know where he disappeared to. I’m having to triage problems with my mother. I have a doctor’s appointment with a specialist and I’ve taken her to a dentist. He said her teeth are a loss and that she needs to have dental implants placed. I don’t think she can do such an extensive surgery. Is that really necessary? Isn’t there any alternative?
Angie
Dear Angie,
I am so sorry for everything you are going through right now. I can “hear” the love and panic you are feeling through every word you type. First, no, your mother does not have to have dental implants. I’m also quite upset that her dentist is suggesting it.
She is an 87 year old woman in poor health. Not only does that just feel like he is trying to grab money from you when you are desperate and confused, trying to navigate a ton of things, but he is also putting your mother in danger.
If she were younger and in decent help than I would recommend implant supported dentures. Without that, using removable dentures means that in about ten or so years there would no longer be enough of her jawbone left to keep the dentures in her mouth because of mineral resorption.
She is 87. This is not going to be an issue. Get her removable dentures so that she can eat and move onto whatever is physically wrong with her. Also, get her a different dentist.
This blog is brought to you by a compassionate dentist in Arnold, MD, Dr. Meredith Esposito.