post mortem and dentures

[makes needs known]

We had a elderly female patient die last night. While she was dying of course she was not wearing her dentures but her family requested that we put her dentures in after she had died. Question- put them in or give them to funeral director to put in? We put them in at family's request.

[Five&Two Will Do]

We always send them with the body to the funeral home. I have never put them into a person that had expired. I guess they could fall out or go down their throat or something, but if it made the family happy, good for you. I have never been asked to do something like that, but I probably would too.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

I'd put them in. The length of time they remain out can affect funeral appearance.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Put them in, less chance of them getting lost or droppped.

As long as they fit, it only takes a minute.

[squidbillies]

I have worked as a funeral director apprentice for some time, and 99.99999% of the time, the dentures are in the denture cup. If the body comes to us with the dentures in the mouth, we may or may not remove them, but we certainly never put them in. We have mould-type things that we put between the gums and lips to create the effect of a "normal" tooth/mouth/face, as well as other methods. The dentures go into the foot of the casket and no one is the wiser. Since it is property of the person, it always goes with them, but not necessarily "in" them.

If I were asked specifically, as a nurse OR funeral director, to put them in, I definitely would. But not as standard procedure.

[amoLucia]

I have worked as a funeral director apprentice for some time, and 99.99999% of the time, the dentures are in the denture cup. If the body comes to us with the dentures in the mouth, we may or may not remove them, but we certainly never put them in. We have mould-type things that we put between the gums and lips to create the effect of a "normal" tooth/mouth/face, as well as other methods. The dentures go into the foot of the casket and no one is the wiser. Since it is property of the person, it always goes with them, but not necessarily "in" them.

If I were asked specifically, as a nurse OR funeral director, to put them in, I definitely would. But not as standard procedure.

Interesting to know. Is that with ALL funeral homes?

I'm not a good denture-putter-inner; have no problem handling them, just never got the knack of insertion. I know as soon as someone expires, I very quickly try to straighten their torso/ limbs and close their eyes and jaws as well as poss. I know rigor affects this for the FH and I like to think I'm trying to make the pt appear as well as poss for you FHs next and for the families.

I will send dentures and eyeglasses with the body to the FH and document same.

[sharpeimom]

I would say send them to the f/h with the body. My mom's two top front teeth were knocked

out playing hockey as a college junior. As she was actively dying, the aide removed her partial.

My mom was adamant to the very end that absolutely NO one would see her without it. I checked

and it was still tightly fitted, shortly before.

I knew the f/h owner was a personal friend and that my mom would have been humiliated to be

seen, even after she was dead, with her "gap" and I tried to get it proerly positioned. NO WAY

would that #$%^ thing lock on to her adjoining teeth! All I suceeded in doing was discoloring her

upper lip.

Sorry Mom. I really did try.