Mom's dentist may be a threat to patients

Sad indeed. It's easy to see the changes in our priorities as we go through different stages of life. I could tell a few stories of recently deceased 90+ and even a 100 year old ladies. All were alone either divorced or widowed for many years. Each different but all well off financially.

All were very smart and well read. All independent women. My mother has been a widow since 1997. She's lived alone in her house sing the mid 1950's. She owns her scamming. She's never been able to look past the word "FREE." She wants for nothing but is penny wise and dollar foolish. She was always attracted to the PCH sweepstakes. She got a call and was told she won $4.5 million. So she sent the first payment, $4800 cashiers check. She told me (even though she was instructed not to). Summed up, I got the police and the bank involved and was able to cancel close to $40,000 of personal checks. She bought a burner phone for instructions and opened a new account and transferred money from an annuity. All this after she was told by PCH, the banks and the police she was being scammed. She turned on me and threatened to disown me and accused me of "ruining her life" because I had POA and she needed me to cosign transfers.
In other words, we all have weaknesses and the scammers have figured out the right formula for just about everyone. And when we're older, that formula gets a lot easier to find trusting older people who play on the internet and answer their phones to anyone with a hard luck story.
From what I've read, younger folks are actually more likely to get scammed but don't have the money to stack up with older victims.
I spoke to mom this morning and she's feeling very good after yesterday's PT. I'm getting close to suggesting she move to assisted living. This not an easy decision. She eats very healthy and even though her eyes are bothered by the screen, loves being online and listening to podcasts she believes are health experts and buys their supplements and subscriptions. She does it her way. I'm pretty sure that's the case with other victims who refuse to share their experiences with others or the authorities. No one wants to be that dummy falling for a scam. At the same time mom was a victim, another older man lost over $200k over many transactions. The scammers sell a target to other scammers. When it comes down to it, older folks with money are not a priority to law enforcement. They have enough to do.

I only get my teeth cleaned every year..because it is uncomfortable..the dentist office wanted me to come every six months..I said no every day I brush my teeth and floss twice a day..

Hi Bettersleep (great thought),

Interesting comment in that my wife and I have been talking about going once a year also. I think we've concluded after seeing my mother's terrible ordeal with her infection, that we'll be sticking to twice a year. Here's a little more about mom's oral hygiene history. She's had regular checkups for as long as I recall. Sometime in the last fifteen years or so she developed periodontal disease. Mom likes to buy every sort of alternative product designed and marketed to be a miracle in a pill (at a cost of course). She spent up to half an hour a night cleaning her teeth and gums. Little by little her crowns began falling out and she needed root canals on many teeth. She has many implants.
I have reading articles and trying to find links between her recent dental work, the soon after infection and how miserable and mean a person she became. I call her every night and see her every day or two. She's the nicest I've seen her since our children were born (70's & early 80's).
My point is, thinking our teeth maintenance is the answer to a forever perfect mouth can be a recipe for what my mother's been going through. Unfortunately a huge piece of that healthy mouth is being fortunate enough to have a great dentist. The other thing is I can't believe how much my mother's temperament has changed since having the bad teeth extracted. Her voice is clearer and sounds so much younger.
My wife has had a much better dental life than me. No doubt she's taken much better care of her teeth. This includes her healthy sugar free diet, never smoked, brushed and flossed, etc. Me, I've always chewed on something sugary, only flossed when something was stuck and did brush every night. Mom's shown me I need to do better.

Thank gosh you r there f or your Mom. It sounds like she had a very bad experience. I’m so sorry for her time energy and effort to fix a failed attempt by the dentist. Not for sure there is much you can do about the poor workmanship and the lack of understanding for our geriatric patients.

So sad. I wish you and your Mom the best. Sounds like she is pretty happy living in her own. Hope your Assisted living facilities are better where you r than in the state of Kansas where I am.

Yes. Please report him to your NJ licensing board. (In Michigan it’s LARA.) Thank God you’re on top of it for your mother.

Re flossing:
I don't like to floss with string floss, so I have a water pic, the larger one, not the "portable" model.
It's faster than string flossing.
It does a wonderful job of cleaning gums and under bridges.
I get an A+ score from my dental hygienist and dentist.

I was told decades ago that flossing is essential for good gum health. For a while, I complied. About 20 years. For the past 10 or so, I rely only on the plastic picks with the tiny soft ridges on them you buy 100 at a time. I only brush prior to bed, but it's a very thorough procedure with an Oral B electrical. I never have cavities, and apart from some staining on the posterior surfaces of my bottom front teeth (I drink tea all morning), I also get two thumbs up on my twice-annual inspections and cleaning.