The Impact Of Living With Dentures In Hospice Care (Dental Health Care)

For families and family members going through the last stages of a loved one’s life, it can be hard to manage. Sometimes, how one leads their physical and dental health confuses these families. More often, full mouth dentures for the elderly are recommended since most of their natural teeth are missing. During the life of limited smile and ways to eat, it may depend on your hospice care team if your hospice patient is allowed to get new dentures. On the other hand, older adults already living with dentures may need to maintain their dentures. There are many side-effects of missing or broken teeth that require oral health care. Hence, it is a must to ensure the remaining natural teeth of the elderly or people that are terminally ill receive good dental hygiene. 

What Does Hospice Care Do For Patients?

A patient who is terminally ill may experience up to 6 months of living. During this lifetime, many families resort to hospice care hospitals, teams, and private clinics for continuous health management. Many patients can suffer from chronic or rare diseases. Some of which can be adults, the elderly, or children that are living with a rare condition. Hospice care focuses on giving the best comfort and pain relief management during the six months. Depending on your hospice care patient, he or she may undergo dental treatments such as new dentures. Yet, there are limitations, such as not allowing them for surgery or any intrusive type of therapy. 

Benefits Of Hospice Care (Dental Advantages)

Patients who are living with dentures throughout hospice care can be glad to know they have full details on how to manage their teeth. An individual with memory problems such as dementia can rely on their family members and hospice team to assist their oral hygiene routines. Moreover, the patients can feel that they are not neglected throughout the whole hospice project and program. Don’t forget to look out for tips on taking care of people living with dentures at the end of this article. 

Gives Comfort And Pain Relief For Their Patients

Pain relief is a must for any health care policy. Especially if the young hospice patient had a full denture procedure previously. Thus, it is necessary for people who are experiencing symptoms such as toothache and cavities. New dentures can be comforting for hospice patients without natural teeth anymore. Not only does it help when eating, but it also helps their confidence. Living with dentures requires them to take note of their eating, tips for denture cleaning, and probably their remaining life to avoid mouth diseases. 

Provides A Comprehensive Plan

Preparing before a hospice program helps not just the patients but also the families. When it comes to financial bills, a family with a hospice patient may expect the fees to either be higher or lower than average. Considering that hospice plans aren’t usually the priority, it can be a shock once the expenses pour in. A comprehensive plan starts on how the doctors will transfer the patient from treatment to pain relief only. It then proceeds to how the patients must comply with the current policies of hospice. Hospice only allows medical or dental care that focuses on care and pain management. However, when a patient with cancer, diabetes, or other terminal diseases looks for surgery as a solution, they may not do so. Furthermore, a dentist can be a part of the comprehensive plan when it comes to oral health. 

Helps Patients Feel Safe (Emotional and Mental Health)

Considering hospice patients may have full or partial missing natural teeth, their dignity is intact during this period. Embarrassment is risky for a person living with a chronic disease. Make sure that your family member’s emotional and mental health is also a part of the comprehensive hospice plan. A young child may also need all the support they can get if either they are the ones undergoing hospice care or their parents. 

It Is A Personalized Health Care

Does a patient know what he or she needs? If the terminally ill patient has preferences for care, they can expect that medical and dental professionals can give service. A person wearing his or her denture can also feel how crucial it is to have a one – on – one assistance. Personalized health care also means your team knows exactly what you need.

Assist Families, Hospice Staff Going Through The Hospice Care Plan

Family members of hospice patients also need all the support they can get. Going through a difficult stage of acceptance of losing a family member can be heartbreaking. It is a good way for families also to know that spiritual and mental health support is available in this way. Additionally, the hospice team themselves can be under a lot of pressure during this period. Hence, hospitals and clinics need to go under a series of self-check and quality analysis to ensure that they are also addressing concerns of their teammates. 

Can Hospice Patients Wear New Dentures?

Many of the elderly may lose their teeth either due to old age or by the treatments they had previously. Before palliative care or hospice care, some patients may undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Hence, a patient needs to be careful when asking for new dentures to avoid complications with their current hospice care management. Doctors, dentists, and other health aids may allow oral health treatment. But, as long as the dentures don’t involve any other treatments such as tooth extraction and surgical procedures. For a better and brighter perspective on your family member’s dental health, consult your hospice group of experts to know the qualifications. 

Oral Health Care Of Hospice Patients Living With Dentures 

Living with dentures throughout the hospice care program can be beneficial. That concern explains why oral health care is as vital as the standard procedures for hospice or palliative care. Here are some tips for families with hospice patients. The denture needs constant cleaning. It needs brushing at least twice a day and placed at a cleaning solution overnight. Dentures also need replacement, so it is best to visit the dentist that caters to both young and elderly hospice solutions.

For people with limited mobility, we suggest using electric toothbrushes instead of the traditional one. You can check out this post about the top electric toothbrush models from Philips Sonicare and see their advantages and disadvantages.