Hi, I'm Debbie. I'm 52 and I took an early retirement in 2006 to be caregiver for my parents. My dad passed in 2007, so now it's just me and my widowed mom. Both of us draw very limited income. Mom has Medicare, parts A, B, & D, as well as a medical supplement, but no Medicaid and no dental insurance.
Mom has extensive health issues and is currently in a Rehabilitation facility recieving PT because of yet another stroke. She will be there for the next 3 weeks. She is also an insulin-dependent diabetic (which is out of control)and she has just been diagnosed with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Among these and several other problems, she is also dealing with severe dental issues. Which is why I am writing this today. Last year, she had a gum infection and two teeth, which were used to stabilize her bridge, had become so badly decayed that they had to remove the bridge and pull the two supporting teeth...leaving a large gap because she was not able to afford to have another bridge to replace that one. Now, her teeth have begun to break off and fall out at the rate of 5 teeth in as little as 4 days! Her 2 front teeth are chipping away and about to fall out, as well. She suffers from a severely dry mouth, partly from the diabetes and partly caused by some of her medications, both of which only aggravate the dental problems. She has been told that due to her medical health, she would have to be hospitalized and be completely monitored in order to have any dental work done. My guess is, they will probably have to surgically remove what little teeth she may have left and make her some dentures. To have all this done will be extremely costly and neither her nor I have the financial ability to get the help she needs. We live in Mesquite, TX (Dallas County). Can anyone offer any suggestions?
