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My MIL is in rehab following a hospital stay for a UTI. She is 92, has dementia and Afib. She is very weak. Last night we got a call that two of her molars fell out. No gum bleeding. No pain. What can cause this to happen?
Not sure, but my mom (no dementia then), was so afraid if the dentist that she let most of her teeth rot in her mouth. She had numerous abscesses. She NEVER complained of pain or discomfort. I have heard/read that folks with brain disorders can feel pain differently.
Gum disease can cause gums to recede which in turn (along with aging), cause teeth to loosen and without periodontal care, teeth will eventually fall out. Also, as previouly mentioned, many medications can add to gum and tooth problems.
Dental hygiene is another ADL that people have problems with. If she has been in assisted living have they been helping her with oral care? When was the last time she saw a dentist? At one point in my Husbands journey with dementia he became non compliant with the dentist. It was a tough decision to let that go. I brushed his teeth but the teeth that broke I could not do anything about. If he were to see a dentist he would have had anesthesia and I was not going to do that. If he had dental work they would have had to pull teeth and I was not going to try to care for him with a mouth full of open sores. Dealing with the possibility of dry sockets, infections, more pain and return visits I just could not put him through that. So bit by bit his teeth broke down. He was not chewing a lot by then most all of the food was soft and thickened so chewing was minimal. So personal opinion I would not stress bout the teeth. It would probably be more trouble to get her to the dentist and sedate her to pull any loose ones. As long as there are no sharp bits of tooth left she will probably not even notice.
I agree that she needs to decide if it’s worth the effort to pursue care. If there is a dentist who can check her in a facility it would be good to see if there are any that are abcessed so she doesn’t have pain of a toothache. It’s a tough decision. Since she asked why this happened, I wanted to be sure she knew the actual reason for tooth loss. Infected teeth can affect the heart and other things but the OP must decide if it’s important based on her mother's health and prognosis.
My dad had the most perfect teeth. So white and straight. When he started to reach his late 80's he started to not take proper care of his hygene and his teeth just started to fall out. He'd be eating and he'd spit out a tooth. He never had any pain at all. Never wanted to see a dentist about it. Never wanted dentures. When he died at 92 last year, he had about 3 teeth left. We all just assumed it was old age and gum disease. I can still remember his smile. : (
Thank you for your reply to my earlier post. In the community Dad was living in the only option was a dentist. It is a rural community with a visiting dentist a couple times a month. She is very competent.
A general anesthetic for oral surgery is not possible for Dad. He had 6 extractions and it was the weeks of healing afterwards that he did not like as well as the initial extractions.
He is well aware that not having his teeth attended to will cause other problems, but it is his choice at this point.
My Mom 92 is in nursing home they have a mobile dentist come in every 6 months do xrays & Look at teeth. They can only do extractions. What else could you do for someone if they are bedridden & can't walk. So going to a regular dentist she couldn't get in the chair even if we got transport there. She has cavities under her bridge & Another bad area.
See a dentist not a physician. They know next to nothing about dental/ oral health. Gum disease or technically known as periodontal disease will cause tooth loss. This is brought upon by poor oral hygiene, bacteria and inflammation that results in the gradual loss of supporting ligaments and bones. I’m a retired dental hygienist who taught in the periodontics department of a university dental program. Please have an oral evaluation done if she is able to submit to it.
Dad is losing his teeth, has been since about age 86. Unfortunately his are breaking off at the gums and he did have some abscesses. He had to go to the dentist to have the roots removed and it was a painful experience. Now as his teeth break he is refusing to go back to the dentist.
But he is 90 now and does not seem to care that he is snaggle toothed. He eats soft foods and still smiles showing his missing teeth.
My MIL was 92 when she lost a front tooth. A year later, she lost two molars. I accompanied her to the dentist each time. Her dentist advised me it was simply old age and not uncommon to have teeth rot at that age.
It's probably nothing serious with your MIL, but I would definitely follow up with a dentist appointment with x-rays. JoAnn29 is right: gum disease and poor dental hygiene can cause other problems.
That would be good if for no other reason to check to see if there is an abscess. Depending on how big the holes are, suturing might also be good as well as a course of antibiotics.
Teeth are held on by ligaments. Contrary to what people envision, it's not bone growing out of another bone. It's a separate bone in a little socket held on by ligaments. Think of it as a ball being taped into a cup. When the ligaments wear out, it falls out.
Robinr, you are talking about broken teeth. I'm talking about teeth that fall out. Roots and all. A broken tooth can be repaired. Depending on where it sheared in relation to the gumline, a crown can be installed.
Probably has gum desease. It eats the bone and eventually teeth wilk loosen and come out. She needs to be checked by a dentist. Gum desease can cause other problems.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
PS. Eventually she had what was left pulled. /:
If she has been in assisted living have they been helping her with oral care?
When was the last time she saw a dentist?
At one point in my Husbands journey with dementia he became non compliant with the dentist. It was a tough decision to let that go. I brushed his teeth but the teeth that broke I could not do anything about. If he were to see a dentist he would have had anesthesia and I was not going to do that. If he had dental work they would have had to pull teeth and I was not going to try to care for him with a mouth full of open sores. Dealing with the possibility of dry sockets, infections, more pain and return visits I just could not put him through that. So bit by bit his teeth broke down. He was not chewing a lot by then most all of the food was soft and thickened so chewing was minimal.
So personal opinion I would not stress bout the teeth. It would probably be more trouble to get her to the dentist and sedate her to pull any loose ones.
As long as there are no sharp bits of tooth left she will probably not even notice.
Thank you for your reply to my earlier post. In the community Dad was living in the only option was a dentist. It is a rural community with a visiting dentist a couple times a month. She is very competent.
A general anesthetic for oral surgery is not possible for Dad. He had 6 extractions and it was the weeks of healing afterwards that he did not like as well as the initial extractions.
He is well aware that not having his teeth attended to will cause other problems, but it is his choice at this point.
But he is 90 now and does not seem to care that he is snaggle toothed. He eats soft foods and still smiles showing his missing teeth.
It's probably nothing serious with your MIL, but I would definitely follow up with a dentist appointment with x-rays. JoAnn29 is right: gum disease and poor dental hygiene can cause other problems.
Best of luck.