You do not give any info as to the type of implant nor the cognition of the person you are considering this for. Dental implants require that all the teeth be removed. this can be difficult for anyone and if this person has dementia trying to care for wounds in the mouth will be difficult. And will they understand what not to do as well as what to do. (when my Husband was still compliant at the dentist he had to have a tooth removed and he kept trying to pick at the area with a tooth pick thinking that something was stuck there. This was while he was still somewhat aware) Anesthesia will be difficult for any older person and again if dementia is a factor the recovery will be even slower. If this is a cochlear implant again surgery is a factor you have to consider and will they be able to comply with instruction as to recovery/healing as well as instructions by an audiologist for adjusting. Implants should not get lost no matter what type they are. If you are referring to hearing aids or dentures that is a valid concern. And I have talked to many people that say the hearing aids do not help as much as they had hoped they would or that they do not help at all. Not to mention the expense. If this is the person mentioned in your profile that is consuming only 3 Ensure meals a day will teeth actually help this person? They can be eating minced or pureed foods now. Why are they not? Will that change if they have $22,000 teeth? My guess is not. I would save your money for when YOU need it.
My mother's ENT specialist at University of Cincinnati would not consider cochlear implants for anyone over 70. My cousin had them done at age 63. She did not have good results.
Oh, never thought of hearing. In that aspect I may say no. But then it depends on age and if Dementia is involved.
I know a women who was born hard of hearing. Wore hearing aides all her life and at about 60 had the cochlear implant done and hates it. She doesn't feel she hears any better then with aides.
This operation is not for everyone. Not everyone's hearing problem is caused by the cochlear. The cochlear has little hairs inside that vibrate that help with sound. Some people are born without the hairs so they are deaf. Others, the hairs are destroyed by overly loud noise.
Hmm... I assumed the OP was referring to teeth but maybe they are talking about cochlear implants?
My answer is still the same: unless the family member with the problem can afford this from their own cash resources without financing, and is a good candidate for the surgery, then go for it. Other risks from surgery at an advanced age is something to be seriously weighed.
My Mom finally got hearing aids this spring. She wasn't putting them in because she worried that putting her sunglasses and hat on and off would knock them out into the mass of fall leaves in her yard. Our solution was to use medical tape to keep them secure.
If you are considering dental implants think carefully. It is a long painful process. I had mine done. And you don't get implants and then forget about it. You still have to have routine cleanings by the dentist. Regular brushing and flossing. Annual appointment with gum specialist.
Implants for someone elderly aren't a good idea. It's unlikely they'd have adequate bone mass in their jaw to support them, so I'd suspect a dentist recommending them isn't the best. My brother is only 64, and he was told at least 10 years ago that he didn't have enough bone mass.
Get a second opinion before anything, but implants should be off the list of options. Dental work and dementia aren't a good combination, and I'd go for softer foods over anything else.
My friend who was in his mid-eighties and had dementia got implants because his denture plates hurt. It was a very painful and lengthy process to the point that he was in tears and sobbing every time his wife drove him home from his appointments. They never worked properly, and he still couldn't eat without pain. He died a year or so after he got them. They cost $30,000,
My Mom had implants done that were posts that the denture plates hooked into rather than individual teeth.
So, if the teeth are removable, they could be lost.
The concern about loss leads me to speculate that some memory loss may be starting. If so, I would recommend further investigation as to how the process works. What is the initial surgery and how much anesthesia is involved (anesthesia is not a good idea even in early dementia)? How much follow up care is required?
Martha111, for implants do you mean artificial teeth that are placed on screws that are embedded into the gums?
If yes, be aware this is a very long process. My sig-other had such a procedure for four teeth and it took over a year to complete. He had about a dozen of appointments as there are many steps involved.
Would your family member be able to follow the dentist's rules regarding this procedure? Sig-other had to follow a step by step plan for keeping the gums super clean, plus prescription meds to avoid infections, and prescription meds for pain.
Sig-other is glad he had that done, he was in his early 70's and still working.
Does this person have any sort of Dementia? There is a lot involved with getting these. The person would need to go to the dentist, he could not come to them. They will need all there teeth removed. That means care afterwards.
I think you left out something in the "Worried they will get lost". If you mean dentures, yes the would.
If they can afford it then fine, if not then I would say no. I am not in favor of financing anything for a family member, if I'd have to finance it then I really could not afford it either.
If you can comfortably afford it, sure why not, it would be a very nice gift to give. I'd buy them for my mother if I could. We're talking about implants her right? There is no worry for them getting lost, implants are permanent fixtures, not like dentures or partials.
If the person who will get the implants has the actual cash I would say yes (my Uncle did this so he could eat steak -- then he passed away 6 months later).
If anyone other than the person who is getting the implants is thinking about financing it or contributing financially, this should be a hard NO.
If this is a real post, which is doubtful, Martha would have come back by now to expand on her original question which was nothing more than a title.
Dental implants require that all the teeth be removed. this can be difficult for anyone and if this person has dementia trying to care for wounds in the mouth will be difficult. And will they understand what not to do as well as what to do. (when my Husband was still compliant at the dentist he had to have a tooth removed and he kept trying to pick at the area with a tooth pick thinking that something was stuck there. This was while he was still somewhat aware)
Anesthesia will be difficult for any older person and again if dementia is a factor the recovery will be even slower.
If this is a cochlear implant again surgery is a factor you have to consider and will they be able to comply with instruction as to recovery/healing as well as instructions by an audiologist for adjusting.
Implants should not get lost no matter what type they are. If you are referring to hearing aids or dentures that is a valid concern. And I have talked to many people that say the hearing aids do not help as much as they had hoped they would or that they do not help at all. Not to mention the expense.
If this is the person mentioned in your profile that is consuming only 3 Ensure meals a day will teeth actually help this person? They can be eating minced or pureed foods now. Why are they not? Will that change if they have $22,000 teeth? My guess is not.
I would save your money for when YOU need it.
If it is for hearing that your talking about I would reconsider that as well. The procedure and then the difference in sounds could add to issues.
I know a women who was born hard of hearing. Wore hearing aides all her life and at about 60 had the cochlear implant done and hates it. She doesn't feel she hears any better then with aides.
This operation is not for everyone. Not everyone's hearing problem is caused by the cochlear. The cochlear has little hairs inside that vibrate that help with sound. Some people are born without the hairs so they are deaf. Others, the hairs are destroyed by overly loud noise.
My answer is still the same: unless the family member with the problem can afford this from their own cash resources without financing, and is a good candidate for the surgery, then go for it. Other risks from surgery at an advanced age is something to be seriously weighed.
My Mom finally got hearing aids this spring. She wasn't putting them in because she worried that putting her sunglasses and hat on and off would knock them out into the mass of fall leaves in her yard. Our solution was to use medical tape to keep them secure.
Cochlear implants is my guess. But then he drinks his meals, it seems.
https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/cochlear-implants
Who knows?
There are implants for hearing as well.
Finance them? How.much are they? When hearing is bad, dementia is bad enough when someone can hear.
Get a second opinion before anything, but implants should be off the list of options. Dental work and dementia aren't a good combination, and I'd go for softer foods over anything else.
So, if the teeth are removable, they could be lost.
The concern about loss leads me to speculate that some memory loss may be starting. If so, I would recommend further investigation as to how the process works. What is the initial surgery and how much anesthesia is involved (anesthesia is not a good idea even in early dementia)? How much follow up care is required?
If yes, be aware this is a very long process. My sig-other had such a procedure for four teeth and it took over a year to complete. He had about a dozen of appointments as there are many steps involved.
Would your family member be able to follow the dentist's rules regarding this procedure? Sig-other had to follow a step by step plan for keeping the gums super clean, plus prescription meds to avoid infections, and prescription meds for pain.
Sig-other is glad he had that done, he was in his early 70's and still working.
I think you left out something in the "Worried they will get lost". If you mean dentures, yes the would.
If anyone other than the person who is getting the implants is thinking about financing it or contributing financially, this should be a hard NO.