Multiple Sclerosis does not make dental care easy.
Long story made short Patti was less than cooperative at her last failed
checkup. Fortunately there is a positive end to this story.
Believe it or not there’s at least one dentist who prefers the
freedom of not having an office practice, traveling between care facilities and
nursing homes.
Rather than just leave it alone he called me with a plan.
What if … he revisited after Patti had been given a dosage of
Ativan/Lorazepam beforehand, the proverbial “chill pill”. Adding me to the mix
could improve success because in the care facility era “no means no” for
professionals, only family/POA can ‘persuade’ a patient.
Arriving I transferred Patti to a geri-chair, a recliner on wheels.
I was blown away by the mobile dentist
office set up, it had everything except musak.
(Rummaging about I found a boom box and a CD of new age music and fixed
that.)
Patti (under the influence of Ativan) was a model patient and the
dentist was a godsend. Patti’s dentist prefers the life of mobile dentistry. He
loves its freedom and its focus on patients.
Patti’s teeth were cleaned, polished, and cavities filled. Only the
high speed drill which sprayed water seemed to agitate her. I quipped it was
just the tooth fairies waterboarding her. “Little bastards” she mumbled and with
a smile her calm returned.
Afterwards, we talked about new solutions because status quo is not
working. Apparently an electric toothbrush is a win-win because in a pinch it
can be used simply with water, eliminating the whole rinse and spit challenge. Regardless
of MS and all its challenges, dental care cannot be trivialized. Brushing teeth
is social behavior. Visiting or outings should include teeth brushing rather
than depend on staff, remember staff can be told ‘no I don’t want to’. Thinking
outside the box is a must.
Since it was 60˚F (15.6˚C) afternoon
in February, and the geri-chair fit in our wheelchair accessible van, I took
Patti to the park in her rolling recliner for a reward before a well-deserved
afternoon nap.
Related previous
entries:
a trip to the dentist (Jan 2006)
teeth brushing smiles (Feb 2009)
dental care Multiple Sclerosis (May 2010)
Caregivingly Yours, Patrick Leer
videos: www.youtube.com/daddyleer
gRRR. i JUST LOST MY WHOLE COMMENT!!
ReplyDeleteI was saying that often your experiences mirror mine at my mother's nursing facility. At her care conference ** last week, I requested that her teeth be brushed better and more often. I'm her POA so I can override her vetoes on the matter. The travelling dentist she sees only wants to extract all her teeth and give her dentures. Duh... dementia???
BTW your article in MS FOCUS was great. Congrats!!
** I asked about the quarterly care conferences, and they are held, but family are only asked to one a year. I'm able to attend any and all if I want. Thanks for the info!!
Peace,
Muff
Muffie, "quarterly care conference, but family are only asked to one a year" whoa Nelly, talk about waving a red flag in front of a bull! :)
DeleteTraveling dentist ... what a concept! Wish they came to the home in addition to nursing facilities. So glad that this service exists for Patti.
ReplyDeleteCranky, the tooth fairy or a traveling dentist I would have thought them both figments of the imagination had I not seen one with my own eyes. :)
DeleteI have years of catching up to do on your blog, but so many of your recent entries are full of useful advice/info for me! I put off taking over my mom's teeth brushing for sooo long and now that I've gotten over my own discomfort with how invasive it feels to do it for her (and it's SOOO hard for her to keep her mouth open, so it always turns into a rather comedic episode leaving us BOTH covered in spittle and toothpaste), I can see by her bleeding gums that I should have been doing this for a while.
ReplyDeleteIt's tough in a care facility though. If I'm not there at bedtime, it just cofuses her for me to suggest that we brush her teeth. I guess the best thing is to just stick with it though and eventually she'll get used to the new routine.
Chelle, yes the invasive aspect of helping someone brush there teeth is a two way hurdle, no doubt about it. I'm with you comedic episode is always a good outcome.
DeleteGood dental care begins with your own efforts to maintain an appropriate regimen of dental hygiene. You should also see your dentist on a regular basis for exams and cleanings.
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