Elderly mother - only a few teeth left

[lucycoco]

My mother (82) has recently moved to live with me (European country, not UK), for many years she has done the bare minimum with her teeth, and has quite a few teeth removed or that have just dropped out.

Following bad tooth ache last week I took her to the dentist, and she only has a few front teeth that are still okay-ISH. The few that are remaining around the sides have infections rumbling away.

We're due to go back this week after a course of antibiotics has ended, and they're going to give us quotes for her options. Those options will be 1) false teeth, 2) implants to which you fix false teeth, and 3) full implants with 'new' teeth permanently attached.

I know she will be shocked at the cost of this, just because she thinks that anything other than a house costs, as MOST, "a few hundred". I don't even know how much it will be, but I assume more than a couple of thousand. But I also want to understand what people in her situation normally do, as I have NO idea.

The dentist has already said that false teeth can be uncomfortable and people end up not using them. He also recommends that if she's having implants, then it would be worth taking out the last few teeth at the front so they match (her remaining front teeth look awful, so I don't think he's being unreasonable to suggest that).

Any experiences anyone has had with elderly parents would be VERY gratefully appreciated! I want to advise and advocate for her, but also be realistic about what she needs. She does have savings so it would be possible for her to pay, but of course it's her savings which are to last for any old age eventualities that might come up. She is not at all vain, but she does need to be able to eat her food for hopefully years to come!

Implants are a long job - does she have the stamina for this?

Well that's another factor - I did ask about the impact of the surgery and the whole process and the dentist didn't seem to think it would be an issue. I've never had anything more strenuous than root canal but I can only imagine it would take some toll on an elderly person.

Dentures would be easiest. Implants are brutal at 22 never mind 82. And cost about £2k each I think

In the UK at least I would get a second opinion about the best course of action at this age - is there an option to do that? Dentures tbh will cost a lot as well but will likely be less hard on her.

I'm a speech therapist assessing adult swallowing so see a lot of people with awful teeth. In my experience it is amazing how much food people do manage to get through even with only a few teeth and reasonably tough gums, but you're right to think it may affect what she can manage. But I would always recommend a second opinion for such expensive and invasive treatment.

Dentures cost me 1k full top & half bottom.
Dont get her trying for implants, in the kindest way she’s to old for them and they are brutal and also need changing out in the future.

A huge thank you everyone, that's extremely helpful and you've all reassured me that dentures wouldn't just be the cheaper option, it might also be the kindest.

I think we'd definitely be better off avoiding any treatment that could be described as "brutal" and I'm very pleased to have found out that out now, as I had no direct experience of implants!

OP, I have had 2 implants & it involved drilling in to my jawbone, stitches in my mouth & black eyes!

I really would not put my 80 year old mum through this.

Hope that helps

I've got my own elderly mother and teeth thread. In our case I was worried about her pacemaker, blood thinners, trauma.

In summary, if in doubt, do nowt.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/elderly_parents/5274543-mum-got-to-have-teeth-out

This is my mum and teeth out thread.

The circumstances are slightly different but it's a frame of reference, I suppose.

Just read through your thread of messages & while I don't have any direct experience of elderly people and dental surgery, I'm guessing that implants would be too brutal a process for a woman of her age.

She might be able to tolerate the all on 4 solution where dentures are placed on 4 implants. Failing that , possibly flexible dentures?

Yes that IS a frame of reference, that's what I've really been after and with now with everyone's comments I do feel a bit better equipped for the next appointment. I agree totally what you said about teeth being bad design. They are Nothing But Trouble if you ask me.

I did feel like the less intervention the better, but if everyone had said that loads of octo-whatever-they-ares have implants and dentures are a thing of the past then that would have changed my mind. My mum will probably want to soldier on toothless but we'll take the info on dentures and we can have a think.

I have lower and upper partial dentures and they’re fine. No issues or discomfort. I wouldn’t think implants are reasonable at 82 tbh.

I’d be wary of any invasive treatment on a 80+ year old. Dm has osteoporosis and it would be risky.

Be aware that if her gums are too worn down, dentures won’t be possible, at least that’s what my 75 year old Sister has been told.