Dementia and dental work

[IrisBearded]

My DF is 94yrs and has dementia. Still lives at home with 4 carers a day. I don't have power of attorney but he is usually quite able to make his own decisions about medical needs

He had a small fitted denture last year to replace 2 missing teeth. He's now not happy and has decided he wants a more permanent solution, a bridge instead, which will require root canal and a few hours in the dentist chair.

Has anyone any experience of an elderly parent going through this procedure. The dentist seems happy to take each step of the treatment as it comes and see how they tolerate it.

My concern is mainly DF changes his mind like the wind and what if he's still not happy after all this treatment? And should I discourage it or go along with his wishes anyway.

Is he capable of staying still in the chair for several hours? DH had similar treatment last year and there was a lot of staying still.

And once the treatment has started I don't see how the dentist could go back or stop? The root canal happened, then there was a temporary crown (which nearly drove DH mad), then back for the final fitting. You can't really stop or go back at any of those points. The temporary crown also limited what could be eaten for a while.

@EmotionalBlackmail he possibly can sit still. The dentist said the denture can be used for the time the root canal is healing.
Unfortunately I think he's thrown the denture in the bin by accident (or accidentally on purpose because he doesn't want it anymore 😬). it was a really small well fitted denture so it's a shame as it took quite a few appointments to make and perfect the fitting.

I'd really like to say to the dentist, please just discourage the treatment because he would listen to the dentist rather than me. But I'm not sure the dentist can do that.

I suppose it depends on how far his Dementia has developed. Can you distract him by saying the appointment is next month?

DM has Alzheimer’s. I have financial POA, but not health.

I do not discuss the cost of dental work with DM, just if money no object would she want the treatment. I then tell her that it’s all paid for and I will loose the money if she doesn’t complete the treatment.

I know she should be consulted as much as possible, but need 20 years of dental neglect sorted and thinks NHS should pay for it … they should, but it’s not going to happen. She can now eat properly and her gums are no longer inflamed.

i decided that as she can easily afford it and dental health is so very important, it was going to happen.

if I’ve over-stepped tough!

Thank you @Justaboutalive.
Yes the money doesn't concern him at all, this doesn't alter his decision. It's more cosmetic if anything and makes eating easier, the rest of his teeth are ok condition apart from the couple which have fallen out.

But yes the commitment to the treatment is a concern, especially as our dentist will require up front payment and I think it'll be about £2500 which DF is happy to pay for.

The dementia isn't too advanced, just confusion and mixed up memory. So when we have a conversation, we have to have it a few times and he constantly changes his mind.

I went earlier and he had decided he was having a dental implant now. I said the dentist had ruled that out because of the medication he was on, so he's decided to leave it for now. He says he's had teeth drilled in before and it was all fine (this was about 40yrs ago!).

Next time I see him we'll have the discussion again I'm sure 😊