Dental Care Questions

1. What can cause pocketing in the gums?

   This sounds like an unfortunate circumstance for your sister. I always encourage patients to get a second opinion. In your sister’s case, I would recommend that you use a dentist who has had additional training with the geriatric population and would take the time to really listen to her and see i if he can identify the source of her concern...
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2. My mom has broken her dentures. She is on both medicare and...

   The least expensive option for a set of broken dentures is a denture repair. The type of repair depends on the extent of the damage: fractured denture teeth can be replaced and additional teeth may be added after a recent extraction of a natural tooth...
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3. Mom hates her dentures; should we consider implants?

   Your mom experienced a huge change when she went from chewing with her own teeth to using dentures. Her teeth may look better, but her ability to chew was likely greatly reduced (especially for chewing certain kinds of foods, such as raw fruits and vegetables and foods that require a lot of chewing like beef...
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4. Can Mouthwash Replace Tooth Brushing a Few Times a Week?

   There is no substitute for brushing and flossing when it comes to good oral hygiene. Regular professional cleanings are recommended to remove plaque and deposits that the patient is unable to eliminate between visits. Mouth rinses such as Listerine, Scope and ACT are available over-the-counter and serve as an adjunct to maintaining oral health...
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5. Should I still take my dad with Alzheimer's to the dentist for regular checkups?

   Not cleaning his dentures may allow overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria in your father's mouth that would increase his risk of developing aspiration pneumonia. Dentist might check for possible presence of mouth cancer.
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6. My husband has senile dementia, and grinds his teeth. Would a mouth guard be a good idea?

   The teeth grinding and clenching you are hearing and seeing is called bruxism. The cause of nocturnal bruxism is unknown. Most theories link bruxism to central nervous system disorders, anxiety, medications, or other medical and dental conditions. Over time, bruxism causes damage to the teeth, gums, and the Tempromandibular joint or TMJ...
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7. My mom has stage 4 ovarian cancer. She has begun to loose her teeth?

   I'm no expert, but my mom also has ovarian cancer (stage 3, 3 years). She too recently lost 4 crowns, they just fell out. I assumed this was due to her ongoing chemotherapy.
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8. How do I keep my wife's teeth clean when she refuses my assistance?

   While not knowing the specifics of why your wife is refusing your efforts to brush her teeth, in general, there are a variety of reasons that people are not comfortable nor compliant having people other than themselves enter their mouths – the mouth is considered a very private area.
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9. How should we handle a dentist appointment for my father with moderate dementia?

   This is no easy decision. I would recommend that you start by getting a second opinion from another dentist. You should also talk to your father’s doctor. Having ten teeth extracted at one time is traumatic for anybody, but for a 91 year-old it’s usually considered major surgery, requiring general aal anesthesia...
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10. Will medicare pay for an oral surgeon consultation?

    That may depend on the kind of work the oral surgeon does, and perhaps on whether the surgeon is a physician (M.D.) or a dentist. If the oral surgeon is a physician, Medicare Part B will almost certainly cover the care. If the oral surgeon is not a physician, it depends on the kind of consultation and follow-up services the surgeon performs...
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11. Will Medicare Part B pay for a root canal and cap?

    Almost certainly not. The fact that the procedure for replacing your tooth involved work below the gum line does not change the treatment from dental (not covered by Medicare Part B) to medical (covered by Medicare Part B). Medicare Part B can cover non-physician treatment (by an oral or maxillofacial...
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12. What can be done for severe ear pain?

    First off, it sounds like you are really suffering. I wonder if you have been seen by an ENT (ear nose and throat) specialist, as it sounds like your ear pain is severe and needs attention soon. This specialist can investigate why you get so many ear infections, and work with your diabetes...
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13. How can I get him to a dental visit?

    Contact the area agency on aging in your county to see if there are low cost transportation services for the elderly in your area. In the absence of that, may need to privately hire (non medical in home care company) someone to transport. Call a local dentist (the family dentist...
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14. Does Medicare pay for oral surgery for patients with osteoporosis?

    The answer depends on the exact kind of oral surgery, and on who performs it. Usually, Medicare Part B doesn't cover oral surgery. That's because Medicare considers most work performed by an oral surgeon to be "dental" rather than "medical." But Medicare Part B can cover oral surgery in a few instances...
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15. How can I get the dental care I need if I can't afford it and have no dental insurance?

    The only school of dentistry in South Carolina is the College of Dental Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. They see private patients, and could very likely do your dental work for far less than the figure you've been quoted. If it saved you thousands of dollars, it might be worth traveling to Charleston for your dental care...
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16. Where can I find low cost dental treatment in Phoeniz, AZ?

    Boy, you're not alone. Finding low-cost dental care is tough anywhere. I'm going to suggest you do a quick internet search with the terms "low cost" and "dental care" and Phoenix. I just did this and came up with several sources. Here are a couple:
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17. My wife and I have been caring for my 88 year old father for...

    The short answer to your question is that this is not normal. And not because all people bathe and shave and brush their teeth every single day, but because you insinuated that your father once did these things regularly and now he doesn’t. A decline in functioning is always a cause for concern inin my book...
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18. Will medicare pay for dental implants?

    Probably not. The only way that Medicare might pay for dental implants was if they were part of a larger reconstruction of the mouth or jaw, following an injury or disease to the tissue or bones of the mouth or jaw. If it's simply the replacement of bad or lost teeth, then Medicare will not pay anything...
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19. Does Medicare cover oral surgery and tooth extraction?

    Most probably not. Medicare considers most work by non-physician oral surgeons as "dental" rather than "medical," and so Medicare doesn't cover it. This is particularly true if the care you're going to receive is a tooth extraction -- the procedure will almost certainly be considered dental and therefore would not be covered...
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20. How can I get financial assistance for dental work?

    As you've probably already learned, Medicare does not cover dental care. But if you have low income and few savings or other assets (not counting your house), you might qualify for Medicaid. And in some states, Medicaid covers dental care as well as medical care.
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