Should I have my mothers teeth pulled?

My wife and I feel we are going in circles with the medical community regarding extraction of all teeth in a 90-year old. Granted, her teeth , especially back teeth, are in terrible condition. Her dentist is opposed to the procedure to remove all upper and lower teeth for a number of health (defibrillator, poor physical health, and mild dementia) reasons, as well as the incidence of loss, inadvertently tossing away the dentures, or another resident of the facility in which she lives stealing them. One oral surgeon adamantly refused the surgery. One said yes, no problem. She has been refused surgery on hammer toes for the same reasons mentioned above. My wife and I would like to concur with her wishes, but her health and our concerns about the ramifications of surgery causes us great concern to proceed. Our thought is if removal of one or two teeth due to infection is necessary, then we would do so. Having all teeth extracted at once is to us, out of the question. Your thoughts and advice based on experience will be much appreciated.

Hi Katheryn,
did you not see your dentist for any follow up? If you still have pain and swelling over a month after the procedure then there may be an infection or some other problem that needs to be treated, make an appointment a soon as possible!

Coastle

Dentist is erring on side of caution, He/she may feel her heart would not be strong enough to handle being put under while all teeth would be removed,plus he/she figures she probably does not have that much longer to live so best to leave well enough alone.

My Mom is 78 years old and has to have all remaining teeth pulled due to periodontal desease which has weakened remaining teeth. I am afraid for her. Any suggestions.

I am 84 I had a tooth extracted with mild dedation tooth was actually ground out I have been doing well but now still very swollen been over a month ago been using water pik and salt water rinses and listerine. Seems more swollen and still pain
canot take anything but tylenol for pain should it be better by now

I just went through all the dental stuff last year. Mom just has her front teeth left. However, her dentists all felt strongly that, even is she just had two good teeth left, that she should do partials.
I would highly recommend getting a second opinion (see if you can find a dentist that deals with the elderly.) Or get a referral for a good prosthodontist (a doctor who does partials) and have her evaluated. Here is the website for the American College of Prostodontics: prosthodontics
The current thinking is that dentures are so hard to eat with, so if you have just one or two viable teeth, they can attach partials to them.
Mom has had hers now for 6 months and is doing well. They snap in and out very easily for cleaning. Of course, I still need to take her to the dentist for care of her remaining teeth and crowns.
Good luck...and you are correct not to rush into anything.

I don't know what to tell you all. I am 79 and had all of my teeth pulled 2 years ago. My false teeth are pretty but my bottoms don't fit bacause of my gums having shrunk because I had only 13 teeth pulled to get the false teeth. My other teeth werte gone for a long time. I have tried everything with dentists but don't want to get them screwed in because of the cost and also no guarentees that that will fit either.so good luck and God bless.

My mother-in-law has periodontal disease in her teeth, causing the front two teeth to finally become loose. She had babied those two front teeth for ten years and her dentist called them 'miracle teeth' meaning they should've fallen out years before. She also has dementia, but not to the point that she doesn't know her teeth are loose. I took her in and they pulled those two front teeth and she had false ones added to her existing bridge. She was wigged out at first wondering what the heck is all this metal in her mouth was, but she's used to it now. It took about a week for her to get used to having the new appliance in her mouth though. It was funny cause we'd be driving somewhere and she'd turn to me and ask 'what is all this metal doing in my mouth?' I would tell her all over WHY she had it there and we'd laugh together because she knows she can't remember anything anymore. It is so important to have a good sense of humor about this I've found out.

First, my sympathies on having NINE brothers and sisters that do not participate.... shame on them! YOU are doing the right thing, God Bless you.

Second: I agree with you on the negative effects of anesthesia. After doing considerable research, I am convinced that this began the incredible decline of my mother (she was not in my care when she got her dentures, but stayed with me afterwards. I could not believe how 'disoriented' and confused she was for WEEKs afterward!

Third: peridontal disease can also cause many health problems too, from systemic infections to heart disease! Talk to her MEDICAL doctor about the pro's and con's of her dental problems and how best to help her.

Get a waterpik and dental rinse. Make it a 'fun experience' for her to use. These devices can keep the GUMS healthier and promote better dental hygiene. It was too late for my mother to safe the top teeth, but we kept the rest of her mouth as healthy as we could with dental rinses (PLEASE supervise the use, and even 'swish' along with her to help her do it correctly).

Please remember with our elders, the effects can be MORE pronounced. There are many other websites that offer conflicting information. Having had dental surgery myself, I recall my disorientation afterwards, and can only imagine how confused my mother was after her 'dental surgery!'

Be cautious, and talk to her doctor about the pro's and con's. God Bless.

should I get my four molars removed they are not giving me trouble but the dentist says I should have them out thanks folks