Dr. Neville is a traveling, in home dentist who serves the aging community in and around Philadelphia Pennsylvania. She serves Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, and Bucks County as well. She has a day rate for those outside of her service area. View our Mobile Dentist Locations page to view all of the areas serviced by Geriatric House Call Dentistry.
To contact or learn more about Dr. Abby Neville visit her page here >
In this video, Dr. Kauffman and Dr. Neville talk about tooth extractions for home bound patients with dementia.
Tooth extractions are sometimes necessary if a patient has severe decay that is causing infection or pain. Dr. Neville is highly experienced in performing tooth extractions for geriatric patients. If your dentist is recommending a tooth extraction for your family member, we can provide a second opinion. Whether or not we do the extraction is based on certain factors.
When Does a Tooth Need to Be Extracted?
Teeth need to be extracted when the decay has spread to the root. Most often, this level of decay causes pain and infection. Infected teeth that don’t get treated can cause severe health complications, especially for geriatric patients. If your loved one truly needs to have their teeth extracted, we want to do it as carefully as possible. We will contact their primary doctor and get a complete health history. If they are on certain medications like Xgeva, we want to know this ahead of time as certain medications can prevent extraction wounds from healing. We may take them off blood thinners under the supervision of their doctor so that the extraction can be completed safely.
When Do We Avoid Tooth Extractions?
If the root is healthy and it is sitting nicely in the gums, we may be able to avoid extraction. Tooth extractions for dementia patients can be scary and uncomfortable, so if there is a way to avoid it, we want to take that route. If the patient is immunocompromised or at a high risk for bleeding, we want to avoid extraction if it’s safe to leave the teeth in. We will always take time to evaluate the teeth and learn about the patient’s health and medication before making the decision to extract the teeth or leave them in the mouth.
Can Tooth Extraction Be Done at Home?
As mobile dentists, we have all the equipment we need to perform extractions safely in the patient’s home. We bring the tools, anesthesia, lights, and aftercare instructions. All we need from you is a clear space near an outlet with the patient in a bed or chair ready to be seen. We strive to make the appointment comfortable and even enjoyable for you and your loved one.
Contact Dr. Neville About Tooth Extraction
At Geriatric House Call Dentistry, your loved one’s health and safety is our number one priority. We try to avoid extractions, but sometimes teeth need to be removed to prevent infection. Dr. Neville has 18 years of experience providing dental care to the geriatric population. You can contact her by going online and filling out the form with detailed information about your loved one’s dental issue.
