My mother is 83 years old and medically compromised with several conditions including diabetes that we are having trouble controlling. We just took over her care. I discovered that she had not been to a dentist in a while so that is one of the first things we did. He is suggesting that we have all of her teeth extracted and get dental implants for her. It’s not the expense I worry about as much her compromised health. My understanding is that this requires some serious surgery. Are there any other options for her?

Benita

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Dear Benita,

Please bear in mind that I have not examined your mother so any advice I give about her situation is general and not definitive for her situation. That being said, based on what you’ve described, I do not feel like your dentist is being compassionate or making recommendations that is in your mother’s best interest. As to whether there are options, there are almost always options and your dentist is ethically obligated to give you all of those options, though it didn’t sound like he did that.

At her age, especially given her compromised health, dental implants would be an overtreatment that would be too hard on her body. I would do two things. First, go to a different dentist and just get a second opinion on whether or not she needs all of her teeth removed. If not, I would save as many as possible. Then, if she does need her teeth removed, I would recommend that she just get removeable dentures.

In most circumstances, I would say it was important that she have implant supported dentures on the bottom teeth in order to prevent facial collapse, but really, at her age, it won’t matter. Removable dentures are fine.

This blog is brought to you by Ahwatukee and Sun Valley Dentist Dr. Harveer Kaur.