Losing dentures repeatedly

[Thisisarubbishusername]

Hi. I’m looking for advice/thoughts from anybody who might have had similar experiences with a parent (or other loved one) to what we’re going through with my dad at the moment.

My dad has had Parkinson’s for 14 years with Parkinson’s dementia having appeared in the last year or two. He lives at home with my mum who does a brilliant job on the circumstances. However she’s been really upset today as we’ve discovered that dad has lost his second set of dentures. Replacing them is going to cost about £2000. They have the money for that, and the worry is less about the money in the immediate term (though they don’t have a limitless pot obviously and it does worry my mum) than about the fact that this might (will) keep happening. My mum says she can barely face going back to the dentist as it takes so many visits to get dentures right and it’s quite difficult and upsetting. Mum has been in tears a lot today. I think not just about the false teeth but about everything, it’s all catching up with her.

Has anyone else had this happen? Did you claim in home insurance? Did dental insurance cover the replacements and if so, how much of the total cost was covered?

I think we have to replace them as without the false teeth dad will find it even harder to eat and even harder to be understood when speaking.

thanks for reading x

If your parents have contents or personal belongings insurance with accidental damage included they may be able to lodge a claim.

Hello,
I work in elderly care, so I am familiar with similar situations, but I don't have a lot of advice for you in this case. But I wanted to write to tell you that I sympathize with you all.

Is there any chance that you can find the dentures?

Hmm you can probably claim on house insurance.
Next time you get your dad a new set request a name tag to be added onto the teeth, and also ask for a "replica" copy.
It will be pricey but means you have a spare for emergencies.

Ps can you not find an NHS dentist to make these or see if a local
Dental hospital/school can help? £2000 really pricey. I'm a dentist and I'd never charge that. Nowhere near that

My mum would wrap hers in toilet paper and hide them in odd places because she thought people were stealing them. I’m guessing you’ve done a really thorough search including every cupboard and drawer in the house, the pockets of every piece of clothing he owns, waste bins and behind his bedside table and under and inside the bed.

Mum’s usually turned up eventually, though once a carer thought they were rubbish (because wrapped in toilet paper and the plastic wrapping from an incontinence pad!) and I only just managed to rescue them from the outside bin before the bin men came.

She moved into a care home a year ago and the bottom set went missing within the first month. The staff did search but it’s even harder to keep track in a home full of people with dementia. I haven’t bothered replacing them. Too traumatic for her and the Alzheimer’s website said this is really common and generally more upsetting for the relatives than the patient.

Hi thanks for the really kind and thoughtful messages so far. I don’t use mumsnet very much so not sure how to reply to each message individually 🙄 sorry

The last set did turn up eventually but my mum and sister have looked everywhere. Dad said he’d put them in a pocket so they’ve been through all his pockets to no avail. Mum has also been through the bins twice, again nothing.

Dad puts his in tissues sometimes too, not sure why. I hadn’t thought that maybe he thinks someone is trying to steal them. Mum thinks he’s flushed them down the toilet: I’m not sure this get flushed away but maybe

Thanks re suggestion of nhs dentist, I think they’re hard to find near my parents. I’ll ask them to double check and query the cost . Their dentist plan to charge them £95 for the appointment alone; classing it as an emergency appt even though it’s not till next Thursday! Not very ethical/kind

interesting that it’s perhaps more upsetting for family than patients themselves

thanks again all x