Dentures

sunny

Registered User
Sep 1, 2006
598
0
:confused: mum has VD - but why is it she keeps taking her dentures out, sometimes she wears them o.k. other times she takes them out and tries to hide them. I have asked her if they fit o.k. or not or if her mouth is sore, but I get no sensible reply. How easy would it be to get a dentist to check her teeth gums
she is in her 80's and would this be free? Has anybody else had this problem, how did the person with D cope with any treatment from a dentist? Advice please.
 

Amy

Registered User
Jan 4, 2006
3,454
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My mum went to the dentist when quite advanced with dementia. She sat in the chair, and he talked to her and stroked her head, then eased her mouth open and had a good look - Dad and I would struggle to get a toothbrush in her mouth!! The dentist was used to dealing with people with dementia though, as his MIL had it.
Love Helen
 

jenniferpa

Registered User
Jun 27, 2006
39,442
0
Maybe it's VD thing - my mother was doing the same thing. Finally, she managed to lose them when she was in hospital. I had her fitted for new ones and the dentist wsa very good - I didn't even have to get her out of her wheelchair. I would suggest, if you don't know a dentist that specialises in dealing with the elderly you call around some local care homes for referrals.

I ended up paying for them - £287 I believe if she had been recieving certain benefits they would have been free.

You know just before they went missing, they seemed to get very loose (you could see them moving up and down in a very mesmerizing fashion). I left the hospital, purchased some denture adhesive, but by the time I got back they'd gone missing. So maybe your mother's dentures are in fact loose, which is why she's taking them out.

Jennifer
 

Care Direct

Registered User
Sep 1, 2006
2
0
Salford
We recently had taken a client to the local dental hospital on behalf of a family member. Its worth discussing in advance to the dentist about your family members needs and asking for the most experienced dentist who has experience with helping cliens with any dementia. Their approach to the person is paramount to the end result and outcome of the visit. Dont allow any junior to undetake the taking moulds etc. Inexperience causes agitation.

Take Care
CD:)
 

mel

Registered User
Apr 30, 2006
1,656
0
66
Sheffield
I'm not absolutely sure about this but I'm making enquiries at the moment....if dentures are lost,it may be possible to claim on home contents insurance for personal possessions?......I find this thread very interesting.....mum has now lost both her top set and her bottom set......the district nurse says its common for them to be flushed down the loo:eek: or wrapped in endless pieces of tissue paper and discarded......As I've searched and searched with absolutely no joy.....either scenario could apply to mum......so....be warned!!!!
 

jenniferpa

Registered User
Jun 27, 2006
39,442
0
I was told I should claim against the hospital - according to the dentest is happens quite often. However, this was something I couldn't firmly pin on them, so I let it go. I hadn't thought of the home insurance though - I'll have to check that

Jennifer
 

Nebiroth

Registered User
Aug 20, 2006
3,510
0
Well it's possible that the dentures are causing some sort of discomfort, so your mum takes them out but isn't able to relate this to you. Then again she might be thinking that it's the time of day to take her teeth out, or even think that she's putting them in, not taking them out. Or she could even be thinking that someone is planning to steal them, and is taking them out to hide them from the miscreant! And then of course forgetting where they are hidden - which could be anywhere, in the most bizarre and unlikely places. So they might end up being carefuly wrapped up and then hidden in the freezer!

As to dental treatment, perhaps you should enquire with whoever is dealing with your mum's case at the local mental health unit (or the equivalent). They might well know a dentist that specialises in treating people with dementia, possibly even one that will visit your mum at home. Alternatively, the local hospital might be equipped with a dental unit able to deal with someone with dementia and similar conditions.

Fortunately, I would think that dealing with gums, dentures etc doesn't present the difficulties of doing a filling or an extraction!