I have severe tooth decay from gerd and several chronic illness. should i get all my teeth pulled? i have diabetes, hypertension, gerd and have had 5 back surgeries. i developed gum disease i assume because of my diabetes and not being able to get treatm

Without : Without an examination, it is difficult to tell the condition of your teeth, so it cannot be determined over the internet if all of your teeth should be extracted. You seem to have many medical problems, and chronic infections are not healthy. Apparently the gerd has decayed your teeth severly, and the diabetes has not helped the periodontal problems. Your dentist may be implying that spending thousands of dollars trying to rehabilitate your mouth may be a waste of time and money because of all these other problems. Ask your dentist the reasons for his suggestion. Are all your teeth hopeless, or does he feel it isn't worth fixing them? The decision on how to procede after that is up to the both of you. Best of luck.

Not so fast: I would suggest a consultation with a periodontist and a restorative dentist to get a treatment plan.

Hmmm.....: If you have sought consultation with a prosthodontist or periodontist who has reviewed your dental xrays and medical history and they have told you that due to decay your teeth are no longer viable, they are probably right. However, if your teeth are viable, you should purse periodontal and restorative therapy to maintain the health of your teeth. Consider 3 month recalls with a hygienist.

NO: Start with good brushing and flossing. The bleeding gum will eventually reduced as the drainage of your gum tissue will establish. You should feel less discomfort as your gum is healthy. Pulling all the teeth will only replace one problem with another and may even be worse. Go to county clinic, dental school, or charity organization or help. Hope i can help!

Multiple problems: You have mentioned that you have several chronic health problems. These may all be related to sleep apnea and you should be evaluated for this and see how this effects your healSecondly, if you lose all of your teeth you may be setting up an additional problem of dealing with full dentures, which is not easy. Have a complete dental exam and discuss treatment options that will fit into your budget

Slow down: Removing teeth and replacing them is a last resort. There's nothing like your own teeth. With your complex medical history I would suggest that you see both a bone/gum specialist Periodontist and a tooth repair/replacement specialist Prosthodontist for examinations. They will then consult with each other and your medical care team to determine the best treatment for you.