Dementia and dentures

[geeman237]

Hoping for some voices of experience here. Mum is 78 and in the last year went into a care home with dementia. She is slowly getting worse, and unfortunately so are her teeth. They are decaying and breaking up or falling out. The care home has had an dentist check her teeth and recommended dentures, but mum is refusing any treatment. I live in the USA and have both POA's for her and she has no other family at all. She runs the risk of infection and discomfort I am sure, but how can I or the care home convince her to have dental work? She might agree today, but come the day of treatment, she could refuse.

Anyone else been in a similar situation?

[phumy]

The chances that your mum actually knows what is going on are pretty much zero and every day for her can be a trauma in itself. Do you really want to make life even more traumatic for her especially if you or no one else is there with her. There are drugs and painkillers that can take care of the issues you mention and the care home will understand her predicament. They will also face care of her eating habits as they change too.

Make life as easy as possible for her, she doesnt need the change, the upset, the stress and the upheaval of a stage person poking around in her mouth as she will not understand what the hell is going on.

[GordonL]

I’m a retired Special Care dentist, I dealt with patients like your mum every day. There is zero chance of her accommodating dentures at this stage in her life. The kindest thing that can be done for her is to try to maintain the teeth she has as best as possible, with antibiotics and painkillers if required.
The only alternative will be sedation or general anaesthetic with either a full dental clearance or removal of most of her remaining teeth. Both of which are a bit risky.

FWIW I had to deal with this with my own mother too, so I can see things from both sides of the fence.

Happy to discuss this with you by pm if you want.