Elderly diabetic, wants teeth out. Is there another way??

[Poppy1234]

A friend of mine is male, 65 with bad diabetes and a heart condition. His teeth used to be great, but has suffered numerous complications with his diabetes, and his teeth are in a terrible state now. I would say it was his gums more than decay, but I'm not sure.
He's in constant pain and has understandably has had enough, and wants them all removed.

Two questions....
If there was any hope he could keep the teeth, who could best treat him?
He's a pensioner with no money with an NHS dentist, and has been referred to the hospital to have all his teeth out, as this is what he's requested.
I just think there might be another way to save them. But who should he see? His diabetes specialists?? Should he asked to be referred somewhere else??

Question two...He wants to be totally asleep, but as he has a bad heart, they aren't keen to do this, but he REALLY doesn't want to be awake while someone pulls all his teeth out....
Is this IV sedation thing available on the NHS?? Because he has no money to go private.
He's not sure he even gets dentures on the NHS.....

Thanks. He's a great guy and deserves the best!

 

[Dave48]

Hi Poppy1234 He will be refered to hospital as an inpatient due to his heart condition,he maybe a day case or in hospital for a few days or he could have iv sedation at his dentist. good luck hope he gets it sorted soon.



Dave.

 

[Poppy1234]

Hi Poppy1234 He will be refered to hospital as an inpatient due to his heart condition,he maybe a day case or in hospital for a few days or he could have iv sedation at his dentist. good luck hope he gets it sorted soon.



Dave.

Yeah, they had an appointment for him to go to hospital for this to be knocked out, but then they had to cancel because his heart was too bad.
I want to find a way to save his teeth!
Or if he has to get them out, by sedation. But they never mentioned sedation was posible.
Maybe it's just not available on the NHS??

 

[brit]

Yeah, they had an appointment for him to go to hospital for this to be knocked out, but then they had to cancel because his heart was too bad.
I want to find a way to save his teeth!
Or if he has to get them out, by sedation. But they never mentioned sedation was posible.
Maybe it's just not available on the NHS??

GA is just a stronger form of i/v sedation where the patient becomes totally unconscious. If the hospital thought i/v sedation were a better option for him, then they would be able to provide it.

He needs to ask his dentist if there are any other options for saving the teeth (root canals, crowns, partial denture) in theory all of those are available on NHS...is he exempt from the band charges? Implants are not available.
You can't put them back so he needs to be sure this is what he wants. Maybe the diabetes/gum status dooms his teeth I don't know.
Based on posts on here, it seems like to save them on NHS he would have to be prepared to just go with local and/or oral sedation....some NHS dentists will do restorative under i/v sedation but charge a fee just for the sedation element. The CDS does i/v sedation for restorative also if appropriate for the patient. Restorative under GA is the big no no.

 

[Poppy1234]

GA is just a stronger form of i/v sedation where the patient becomes totally unconscious. If the hospital thought i/v sedation were a better option for him, then they would be able to provide it.

He needs to ask his dentist if there are any other options for saving the teeth (root canals, crowns, partial denture) in theory all of those are available on NHS...is he exempt from the band charges? Implants are not available.
You can't put them back so he needs to be sure this is what he wants. Maybe the diabetes/gum status dooms his teeth I don't know.
Based on posts on here, it seems like to save them on NHS he would have to be prepared to just go with local and/or oral sedation....some NHS dentists will do restorative under i/v sedation but charge a fee just for the sedation element. The CDS does i/v sedation for restorative also if appropriate for the patient. Restorative under GA is the big no no.

Thanks Brit.
I think he's just had enough, and is in so much pain he just wants rid of them.
I don't think he's researched any other possibilities, he just told them he wants them out.
I'd like to give him some hope....
But now they keep cancelling anyway, as his heart isn't up to a GA.
I thought sedation would be better for him, but they haven't mentioned it.
I'm going to find out exactly what's wrong with his teeth.
I think it's mainly his gums. They look gross, though they used to be fine.
He's never neglected them. This is all down to diabetes.
His feet have gone too..........
I don't know if he gets totally free NHS treatment, but is certainly NHS not private, and is registered disabled.

 

[Dave48]

Hi Poppy1234 Iv sedation is available free on the NHS Hope you get something sorted soon.


Dave.

 

[Poppy1234]

Hi Poppy1234 Iv sedation is available free on the NHS Hope you get something sorted soon.


Dave.

Great! I'll let him know!

 

[Dave48]

Brilliant poppy1234 let us know how he gets on.


Dave.

 

[Poppy1234]

I've told him IV sedation is available on the NHS, though I'd still pefer him to find a way to keep his teeth!
Got him some vitamin D3 too, as that is good for teeth, and his gout too!

 

[skaters]

There are definitely NHS sedation clinics all over the place, you could google it to find out if there are any near your friend. He could also ask his dentist to refer him to the 'Community Dental Service' they specialise in treating pts with complicated medical porblems and phobic patients too, you may find they provide a sedation service!

 

[Poppy1234]

Thanks skaters!
The hospital really don't want to give him a GA still because of his heart, but the poor guy is desperate to get his teeth out. He's in so much pain...
You'd think they'd suggest sedation wouldn't you....?