Mother with dementia will not open her mouth willingly for the dentist.
Mother with dementia will not open her mouth willingly for the dentist.
Added: February 28, 2008 - 8:44 AM
By: Patient Email Withheld, Honolulu, HI
Need Dentist / Specialist:
Yes
Provide Cost Estimate:
No
X-rays Available:
No
Case Summary
Bridge
Teeth:
Case Description
My mother is in a care home with dementia. Her permanent bridge came out about a month ago, and now she is complaining of pain when eating. But she will not open her mouth for the dentist to check what is wrong or repair the bridge. Is there a dentist that can sedate her to do the work on her teeth?
My mother was taken to an ENT doctor who found that she had cold sores in her mouth that were causing the pain. She is doing a lot better now.
Thanks for your help.
Request Consultation
Get Dentist Opinions
Compare Ratings
Select Dentist!
Are You This Patient?
When selecting a new doctor, consider the following:
Quality of Explanations: Compare dentist replies. Give preference to well-reasoned, detail-oriented, transparent explanations.
Experience & Qualifications: If a dentist has a practice listing, check their practice description,
special training, typical office procedures and before & after case photographs.
Other Patients' Freedback: If a dentist has reviews, read other patients' reviews. The more
reviews they have, the more likely it is that other patients' feeback is accurate.
Treatment Costs: Dental procedure costs vary from practice to practice and depend on a variety of factors.
Because quality of patient care and treatment results vary from practice to practice most dentists will not "price-match" treatment fees of others.
Reply: Mother with dementia will not open her mouth willingly for the dentist.
added: February 28, 2008 - 11:00 AM
I sympathize with your dilemma. Your mother is in a very difficult situation since a dentist cannot work if she will not open her mouth and cooperate. One alternative is to put your mother under general anesthesia, and remove the root tips that remain. She will have to go to a hospital and be placed under general anesthesia. The problem that exists today is that the anesthesiologist that I have worked with is limiting his practice, and I am not aware of any other anesthesiologist willing to work on patients with dementia. I wish you well in your search. You might ask the staff dentist at the care home to monitor your mother by rounding on a regular basis, and prescribing palliative treatment as needed to make your mother more comfortable.
Reply: Mother with dementia will not open her mouth willingly for the dentist.
added: February 28, 2008 - 12:46 PM
Hi, my name is Ashley and I''''m responding from Dr. Joel Yap''''s offfice. Dr. Yap will be able to exam your mother. Please call me at 808-596-0890 to further discuss your mothers condition and to schedule an appointment.Ashley LazaroOffice Manager
Reply: Mother with dementia will not open her mouth willingly for the dentist.
added: February 29, 2008 - 1:19 AM
I''''m sorry about your situation. I don''''t do any sedation, and don''''t know any dentists, other than oral surgeons, who do. You might try contacting an oral surgeon, I don''''t know how responsive or helpful they would be. Another thought would be a Pediatric dentist; some of them have hospital priveledges to treat children while sedated, and your mom is just a big kid. Good luck, Todd Goode
Get Dentist Opinions