Does My 83 Year-Old Mother Really Need Dental Implants?

My mother has not taken great care of her teeth and is now suffering from dementia. Her dentist is suggesting we get her implant supported dentures, but as I look into this more, it appears to requires fairly extensive surgery. She not in the best of health. He says it is necessary because of her bone, but I’m wondering if there is another option that could work.

Bonnie

Dear Bonnie,

What your mother’s dentist means about her bone is the risk of facial collapse. After someone is in dentures from between ten to twenty years, there is no longer enough bone structure to retain their dentures. This is because once your teeth are removed, you body begins resorbing the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere in your body as a means of being efficient with your resources. Having dental implants placed in order to retain the dentures prevents this problem.

If your mother were young or even. middle-aged, you’d want to do whatever was possible to retain her bone structure. However, your mother is already 83 years old. The chances of this being a huge deal for her are very slim.  That combined with her health and other conditions, and I actually think it was irresponsible of her dentist to suggest implant supported dentures. One of the last things she needs at her age is an elective surgery.

In your place, I suggest just getting her removable dentures. Based on. your assessment of her condition, even if you did get her dental implants, it is unlikely that she will care well enough for her teeth to keep them viable.  Gum disease will completely cripple her ability to retain her implants.

At this point, you want to make your mother’s life as simple, pleasant, and comfortable as possible.

This blog is brought to you by a compassionate dentist in Nashville, Dr. David Wickness.