[Mountaindewed]

But I’m scared to go to the dentist. So I’m putting it off. If my dentist says I absolutely have to go or else I’ll be risking my physical health, can she get an order and make me go?

I was reading about this women who was held at the Mayo Clinic and they were trying to gain custody of her because they thought she didn’t have the mental capacity to make her own choices.

Could this happen to me? I’m my own guardian but I’m worried if I want to refuse treatment of any kind a judge will just look at how I was when I was 13 and not care about how I am now. And will force me to get treatment. I also worry that the courts will overrule my mom who will agree to anything I want.

Is this common? Because of my autism do I really have no say in anything even though I am my own guardian?

I know it’s a weird question. But I’m worried about it. I do have bad teeth issues.

[*Laurie*]

I don't have an answer to your question. My guess is that no one can force you to go to the dentist. I will tell you, however, that bad teeth only get worse...and that really bad teeth can kill you. Yep, that's correct. My mom had tooth problems and was terrified of the dentist. She refused to go. Her teeth got worse and worse. She finally had a stroke and her cardiologist told my sisters and I that the infections in our mother's teeth had most likely caused the stroke (which she died from). Tooth infections can travel throughout the vascular system.

Also, remember that dentists nowadays are much, much less painful than they were some years ago. And dentists are so much more aware of the fears most people have about going to the dentist.

[unaluna]

They were trying to gain custody of the Mayo 18 year old because they thought her parents were goofy.

[WishfulThinker66]

What *Laurie* had to say, though scary, is quite true. Bad teeth very much do impact our general health. Besides, I realise I am making an assumption here, but the gingivitis is likely going to come to a point where it will affect close communication with friends, etc. I know from personal experience. I let a tooth get so bad that I had a constant bad throat and mouth and I was aware my breath was appalling. I became hesitant to get too close to people including my then husband.

I realise the anxiety of seeing a dentist can be debilitating. There are understanding dentists out there as well as new technologies to make it easier. Many dentists will provide a sedative or tranquilizer if requested. My dentist was extremely good at relaxing me by his own calm and soothing nature. He too had a new fangled way of administering anesthesia painlessly.

[Mountaindewed]

Thanks. I know I’ll feel better once I actually go. I don’t have any pain and my mom said that should be the reason I go now. Because it probably won’t be as bad as I think.

As for the being your own guardian and still not having rights because of MI, I talked to someone and she said that very well could happen. Even If you are your own guardian a judge could very well say you can’t make your own medical decisions.

It’s best I just stay healthy.

[*Laurie*]

I know that in my state anyway, no one can compel anyone else to seek medical care of any kind unless that person is under guardianship.

[amicus_curiae]

No, if you’re capable of caring for yourself, and have not been and are not in danger of being adjudicated otherwise, you can’t be forced to go to the dentist.

An interested party, however, might conspire (tricky word!) with health officials and if your dental problems presented a danger to your health, you could be adjudicated incapable of self-care.

It’s tricky.

I’m with Laurie. You want to be able to chew at 70.

[divine1966]

A colleague of mine hasn’t been to dentist for like 20 years. She ended up going recently and does have ton of issues but no one ever forced her. Ton of people don’t go to doctors. One can’t be forced to go (unless minor or declared incapacitated or something similar)

[*Laurie*]

It's not always a good thing that people cannot be "forced" to seek medical care. My husband, age 71, has never had any of the recommended preventative medical tests. That puts a huge burden on our kids, and on me. The likely outcome of not using preventative medicine is devastating illness that is discovered too late.

[Mountaindewed]

I have an appointment October 1st. My mom was at the dentist today without me and told the dentist how worried I was. The dentist said not to worry. I’m taking her advice.

[eskielover]

Just for information....I left my H 11 years ago but unable to get the divorce because of financial reasons caused mostly be him. He really messed things up even worse so from where I live across the country I called adult protective services (APS) because his financially irresponsibility was going to land him homeless. I am finally getting my divorce but I still care about him as a human. I waz actually hoping they would determine a conservator was needed.

Turns out they couldn't talk to me about thevspecific situatiln findings but they did let me know that if they see that a person is capable of decision making it is their own problem if they make BAD decisions.

So they would consider your choice not to go to the dentist as "just a BAD decision" & do nothing about it.

I can attest as to how bad it was for me to go to a dentist. I had antibiotics at the time my adult teeth were forming which caused the enamel on the teeth not to form well. My teeth had cavities & would just crumble all my life. I went to the dentist but not often because there was really not much they could do. Finally a few years ago I had all my teeth removed.

Only problem.....I couldn't tolerate dentures in my mouth without them making me throw up after gagging me. Only solution is denture implants & I don't have the $14,000 it would take to do that.

Glad to hear you do have an appointment.