Took my mother to the dentist finally since she had refused to go for several years and since shes been having problems with loose tooth and was a problem that needed to be addressed prior to spinal surgery. Dentist diagnosed her with severe gum disease that was causing bone loss and said most of the tooth has to be extracted eventually or they'll fall out. Cause may be cause of smoking (which she quit) or braces that she had at a late age.
No other abnormalities such as tumors or current infections found and she goes back next week to get the gums cleaned to be cleared for spinal surgery and will need to be re-evaluated in the future.
So is gum disease not reversible? Dentist mentioned that she'll be living with it and needs cleaning in a 3 month cycle. What are her options? She doesn't want to get them all extracted since they'll eventually fall out and says natural teeth is the best, but I am worried that she may only have the option of wearing dentures in the future. Are implants not usually possible for multiple teeth? Or are there some other options available? Please advise.