Persie - I am sorry you find my corrections annoying. I guarantee you that they are just as annoying to me to have to do them. While I consider it an honor to be able to post on this site and share my long-term experience with caretaking, I am disabled and cannot at this time in my life sit up at my computer and type from a keyboard. I am only able to use my android phone and the little touch pad is impossible for me to type from. The space allowed for the input box and the type font are fairly small. I make the best effort I can but because there is no edit before posting feature, I sometimes do not find all of the voice recognition errors before I post. I have only had the ability to use this phone for a few months and I am striving to be better at it. Be assured, I am doing the best I can and will continue to improve as time goes on.
For daisy - I agree with Sylvia about the brittleness of the tooth following a root canal and the need for a crown after the fact. Not only costly but a lot of sitting still and oral manipulation of a dementia patient. Any dentist suggesting such a procedure for your mom is out for the money.
But Sylvia, I still recommend going to an oral surgeon because that does not mean being put out with general anesthesia. My mom was 93 when she had to have 2 left lower molars removed. We knew from past history that she had little hooks on her roots so we opted for an oral surgeon who could address the careful removal without damage to her jawbone, nerves or blood vessels. I would never suggest anesthesia for any elder person unless there is no other way. My mom had a hip replacement at 85 and a knee replacement at 87 and both times had only local anesthesia plus demerol twilight sleep because the anesthesiologist felt that general anesthetic has the potential to contribute to dementia in seniors.
CarolLynn, would you please stop using the voice recognition feature and just type your responses? Going back to correct your mistakes with another post is rather, well, annoying.
She's put this off for 9 years. She really can't be blamed but whatever happens, it isn't your responsibility.
Your reference to a "germ killer" is kind of obscure. Are you using something Rx or OTC, or something alternative like tea tree oil or grapefruit seed extract? Or something else? I would appreciate knowing.
I know you are seeing another dentist, good, just know that if her roots are good enough for a root canal, they are strong enough to be removed properly by an oral surgeon and not pulled by a dentist, so just please beware.
I've been explaining about homeopathic arnica pre- and post- surgically to my clients for over 45 years. Some (good) Plastic Surgeons have been recommending it for about 10 or 15. I suggest you look it up. My preferences 6X but sometimes you can only find 30X which is OK. Remedies are non-toxic and never interfere with prescription or OTC medicine. By all means, consult with your moms dentist or oral surgeon. If they don't know about it, most just shrugged and say you can try it if you want but it doesn't work. If you get that level of approval, please consider using it as it will make your moms extraction less traumatic and faster healing. It is also naturally antiseptic. My email is on my profile page; please write me directly or post on my wall if you need more information.
I would get it extracted especially at her age. Root canals are at least 2 grand and you end up loosing the tooth anyway because the pulp is completely gutted out.
Dentists are a lot like chiropractors........they will always tell you that you need more than what is necessary.........this is how they keep you coming back and spending money. It's your business they need.
A simple extraction can be done by a regular dentist for about sixty to a hundred and twenty dollars. At 91 years old, I can't imagine anyone still being vain.
Try to make a decision based on basic economics and practicality.
I work in the dental field and I agree with having it pulled verses root canal treatment. During a root canal they remove the nerve and then the tooth becomes brittle therefore needing a crown. At age 91 I would probably opt for extracting the tooth when it becomes painful. There is a dental office on every corner and alot of them go above and beyond for the money. And I wouldn't let an oral surgeon put her under for that. The lidocaine is what gets rid of the pain during the extraction.
great advice. I really did not know that extraction is an option. I have been giving her a special germ killer to use for a month or two, as I know that the infection can spread to the heart. She has been very stubborn about the dentist, since 2004.
At 91, I would encourage her to have it extracted. A root canal is not pleasant for a younger person let alone someone at the age of 91, also.. they are very expensive and dentists want the money!
daisy - I reviewed and realize that you haven't said where is the problem tooth is located and I think it's because my question but somewhat truncated and you didn't see that I asked that question??
If the offending toith is not in a visible place, getting it removed by an oral surgeon maybe the best solution and a lot easier on your mom then having a root canal. The purpose of a root canal is to conserve the to sit in that space and all of it needs a crown as well. Not only very costly but a lot of sitting and oral manipulation for a person with dementia. It will be interesting to hear what the third opinion dentist has to say. Please give us an update.
I found a 3rd opinion dentist, we go tomorrow. Also, I had to go thru all her past dental records [while she lived alone] and found out she she has been to 2 other dentists and her tooth issues go back to 2004. I learn more and more about my mom everyday [she told me a story abt a horrible dentist visit when she was a young girl] I guess this is my turn to help her out with her 'fear'
Where is the problem to located? Would pulling it leave a visible gap or affect her current dentures if she has them? My mom lost a lower front tooth from biting a sandwich of all things. That bothered her for a long time because she could see it was missing and she thought it looked bad. Eventually, she didn't care very much about it. Later she complained of pain in lower left molars and had to take both of them out. She was no longer able to wear her dentures which completely changed what she was able to eat. She was 93+ at that time and we decided she couldn't handle all the fussing and the fitting, etc. that would be required to get new dentures.
If decide that pulling is the best option, be sure to consider an oral surgeon to do the job rather than a dentist.
I was writing... she is pretty good physical condition, but mentally not too clear, so she asks to see a dentist for a cavity she can 'feel' The dentist took a whole series of xrays and found the root canal issue. She still says she wants to go to the dentist for a cavity, but not for any pain yet.
I understand your mom's reluctance but what is she going to do if infection sets in? Did she ask the dentist how long she can put it off? Personally, I detest root canals and the outrageous cost even more so, but once infection sets in, it can be bad for a person's overall health.
But Sylvia, I still recommend going to an oral surgeon because that does not mean being put out with general anesthesia. My mom was 93 when she had to have 2 left lower molars removed. We knew from past history that she had little hooks on her roots so we opted for an oral surgeon who could address the careful removal without damage to her jawbone, nerves or blood vessels. I would never suggest anesthesia for any elder person unless there is no other way. My mom had a hip replacement at 85 and a knee replacement at 87 and both times had only local anesthesia plus demerol twilight sleep because the anesthesiologist felt that general anesthetic has the potential to contribute to dementia in seniors.
Your reference to a "germ killer" is kind of obscure. Are you using something Rx or OTC, or something alternative like tea tree oil or grapefruit seed extract? Or something else? I would appreciate knowing.
I know you are seeing another dentist, good, just know that if her roots are good enough for a root canal, they are strong enough to be removed properly by an oral surgeon and not pulled by a dentist, so just please beware.
I've been explaining about homeopathic arnica pre- and post- surgically to my clients for over 45 years. Some (good) Plastic Surgeons have been recommending it for about 10 or 15. I suggest you look it up. My preferences 6X but sometimes you can only find 30X which is OK. Remedies are non-toxic and never interfere with prescription or OTC medicine. By all means, consult with your moms dentist or oral surgeon. If they don't know about it, most just shrugged and say you can try it if you want but it doesn't work. If you get that level of approval, please consider using it as it will make your moms extraction less traumatic and faster healing. It is also naturally antiseptic. My email is on my profile page; please write me directly or post on my wall if you need more information.
Dentists are a lot like chiropractors........they will always tell you that you need more than what is necessary.........this is how they keep you coming back and spending money. It's your business they need.
A simple extraction can be done by a regular dentist for about sixty to a hundred and twenty dollars. At 91 years old, I can't imagine anyone still being vain.
Try to make a decision based on basic economics and practicality.
If the offending toith is not in a visible place, getting it removed by an oral surgeon maybe the best solution and a lot easier on your mom then having a root canal. The purpose of a root canal is to conserve the to sit in that space and all of it needs a crown as well. Not only very costly but a lot of sitting and oral manipulation for a person with dementia. It will be interesting to hear what the third opinion dentist has to say. Please give us an update.
If decide that pulling is the best option, be sure to consider an oral surgeon to do the job rather than a dentist.