Dental Care at Lieberman

Based on a technique that the dentist used with Gregory yesterday, we have started a new tooth brushing routine. It is important to keep Gregory's teeth and mouth in good condition as a cavity or gum problem for people with dementia can be a major catastrophe including the need to go to a dental surgical location in an ambulance, putting the patient asleep, and filling the cavity.

We tried our Sonicare toothbrush but to no avail as Gregory hated and fought the hight pitched vibration and the intrusion into his mouth. As suggested by the dentist, I purchased a more reasonably priced rotating toothbrush head by Colgate. The head spins and provides multifold bushing with ease and with less vibration.

Wearing rubber gloves, I stuck my thumb into Gregory's mouth - being careful to not be in a position to be bit. I talked through and assured him about the whole experience as it was taking place. With thumb in place, one at a time I gently pulled his lips and cheeks out and away from the teeth as I glided the rotating bush head, gently and slowly against his teeth. First top, then bottom, then repeat inside.

Gregory was not happy, shouted through the mouth full of toothpaste, equipment and fingers ... but did not fight me. I continued to talk through the process with assurances that it was almost over. The turning point came towards the end, when I told Gregory that his mother IS so proud of him that he doesn't have any cavities. He calmed down and smiled.

I let him hold the toothbrush while it was on so he could feel it and helped him to use the brush to brush my teeth. He seemed to enjoy that.

New Role Playing Communication

Previously I have mentioned that a new way of communicating with Gregory is through "Role Playing." With this type of communication/interaction, there is no meaning or information transfer but rather a way of being together in the present here and now.

Previously I mentioned his playing: 1) Italian (with accent but making no sense,) 2) Russian (with accent but making no sense,) 3) "Retard" (with gibberish - excuse me for being politically insensitive but that best describes how he plays the role.) When he begins one of his roles, I will imitate it with him. After each role playing takes place, both Gregory and I usually melt into giggles having had a wonderful time.

Today I was at Lieberman bright and early at 8:30 to help Gregory get through a dentist visit appointment at 9:00. While we were waiting for the dentist to be ready I experienced two new roles. 1) Halloween Monster (with arms extend in front of him and hands clawed with a deep guttural roaring,) and 2) Play Dead.

During the entire teeth cleaning experience Gregory cooperated but yelled and screamed Ouch, ouch, shit, ouch, stop, you're hurting me. I do not think Gregory was in a lot of pain but just didn't like the dentist playing his mouth, pulling on his lips, and scraping his teeth and gums.

"Playing Dead" took place when the dentist withdrew his tools from Gregory's mouth for a moment and Gregory called out, "You killed me," opened his eyes as wide as they could go, lolled his head to the right, tongue hanging loosely from his mouth, eyes closed!

Then we giggled again.