Mom's ALC transported her to the dentist. During her cleaning, the dentist's office called me with a great deal of concern that my mother had not been receiving any oral care. There is enough damage to her front teeth that they could break off. Dental repair will take place this week.
I called the Director right away and followed up with an email. The Director was going to look into it.
It has been 5 days and I havent heard back from him. I am not sure what my next steps should be including whether I should bring in a lawyer.
At 95, to have front teeth that "could break off" is not a major concern in my book. All teeth could and will break off at that age, with or w/o meticulous dental hygiene that rarely takes place under any circumstances.
I'd question any dentist wanting to put a 95 year old thru any level of tooth repair on the off chance of breakage. And then I'd go down to the AL and speak to the ED in person. Although, again, unless it was written into moms care plan that she have her teeth brushed daily by the staff, I don't think you'll get very far. My dad was the highest level of care at his AL and didn't have that service included. In Memory Care Assisted Living, my mother got help with her dental hygiene for more than two and a half times the cost of AL.
Good luck.
We asked "Does she need her teeth cleaned" his response was "At 98? No, ...don't put her under any unnecessary stress, she has had enough in her life"!
A lawyer? Surely you gest!
I would talk to the RN. She is over the aides. It may not be on Moms careplan that aides need to help with dental care. Assisted living is exactly what it has, they assist. Mom's care maybe more than the AL is willing to do.
Please see this for what it is…. An unnecessary infliction of pain on your mother.
Some elders may feel the same about washing 🙂
If Oral care is on her care plan ask to see the documentation that they have been doing the oral care.
They can not "force" mom to comply with oral care so if she is declining it that should also be documented and taken into consideration.
A few Personal Opinion comments from me though.
Is mom in pain? Are there infections currently?
If the answer to both of those are no I probably would not get bent out of shape.
If the dentist is planning on extracting teeth who is going to follow though on Oral care of the wounds that she will have?
Mom is 95 her teeth are probably 85 years old! (give or take a year or two) Even if she was getting oral care 2 times a day her teeth may break off anyway. I am a bit younger than your mom by about 26 years and I have teeth that my break. My dentist cautions me each time I see her.
I would be very cautious of doing extreme dental work
Your mother's teeth have more issues than not getting a regular once a year dental visit. How is that assisted livings responsibility?
Your mother's teeth did not get damaged to the point where they look like they are about to "break off" because she didn't get her teeth brushed daily.
Adding most dentists are down right scammers. They have bills to pay.
Hopefully you don't get duped into getting a lot of work done on mom. She's 95 for pete's sake. If a tooth breaks then get it pulled and move on. No root canals or veneers at her age.
Why didn't this dentist notice the situation with moms teeth at her yearly visit?
Thanks
Dental work is PAINFUL and many pain meds do bad things to 95 year olds.
maybe her dentist wants money
get a second opinion
other family members? Talk with them
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