Questions for a recovering mortician - Page 87

Carrera_3.2 · #**4301** 10-26-2009, 09:48 PM

It really does not matter if they have their false teeth in or not, because the closure is being done with the little needle and wire assemblies that the needle injector just planted in the upper and lower jaw bone line. The amount of room for the teeth, is easily adjusted, prior, to embalming. The "needle injector" could be thought of something like one of the spring loaded, center punches. The first photo in the group of them in my post, is the type I normally used. It felt more comfortable to try to use in sometimes difficult areas. As you can see, it looks somewhat like a hypo-syringe, except the part that would normally be pressed with the thumb, the center portion is cupped into the heel of the hand, and the index and middle fingers fit through the finger holes, and then you are pulling the finger holes towards the heel of your hand. The instrument has a shallow hole in the tip along with a small slot, so the wire does not get damaged. It may take two or three compressions of the injector, to make sure that the "needle"(more like a small nail, with a twist-tie) is firmly implanted into the bony structures, upper and lower. Hopefully this makes sense. Carrera.

FizzyGrissom · #**4302** 10-26-2009, 10:22 PM

It does make sense, thank you!

jarrett622 · #**4303** 10-26-2009, 11:09 PM

I found this at youtube after watching the video someone else had posted a link to. I believe there's 7 part to this...?

"Dearly Departed: Life as a Funeral Director"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6jMA...eature=related

MbalmR · #**4304** 10-27-2009, 07:58 AM

I personally have found that using the dentures to create a proper mouth closure can sometimes be worse than using the expression former. Many times, the gum line has worn down in many elderly patients, and that simply causes the dentures to rattle around in the mouth, despite every effort to keep them in place. Depending on funeral home policy, dentures are either disposed of properly, or placed in the casket at the foot end of the deceased.

jarrett622 · #**4305** 10-27-2009, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MbalmR

I personally have found that using the dentures to create a proper mouth closure can sometimes be worse than using the expression former. Many times, the gum line has worn down in many elderly patients, and that simply causes the dentures to rattle around in the mouth, despite every effort to keep them in place. Depending on funeral home policy, dentures are either disposed of properly, or placed in the casket at the foot end of the deceased.

There's a visual...yeah, who knows...someone might want to eat circus peanuts in the hereafter! *running away*

MaxyMillions · #**4306** 10-27-2009, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MbalmR

I personally have found that using the dentures to create a proper mouth closure can sometimes be worse than using the expression former. Many times, the gum line has worn down in many elderly patients, and that simply causes the dentures to rattle around in the mouth, despite every effort to keep them in place. Depending on funeral home policy, dentures are either disposed of properly, or placed in the casket at the foot end of the deceased.

Here's one from the gross but true file. Years ago, at my old practice, there was an elderly patient that was showing off his new false teeth to the receptionists. He told them that he "got 'em on the cheap" at a funeral home, where there was a big ol' box of false teeth that people could try on to find the pair that best fit.

I gagged on that one! I took it with a large grain of salt because it was a psychiatric practice....but he apparently had no history of psychosis, was broke as could be, and those damn false teeth had clearly not been fitted that well.

MbalmR · #**4307** 10-27-2009, 01:52 PM

OMG!!!!!!!

Paul once had a man come in to say that some how there was a mix up at the nursing home, and he had his wife's uppers, and she had been sent to the FH with HIS uppers, which were already in her mouth. Paul made the switch.

The man popped his dentures in his mouth and walked merrily away. Ugh.

Carrera_3.2 · #**4308** 10-27-2009, 02:25 PM

I know about donations of eye-ware, but, I never heard about donating dentures. Not a very pleasant thought picture.

We never left dentures in either, and actually, most of the time they would already be bagged or in some other location with the other personal property, than with the body.

I believe the use of the "expression former" is a newer trend, because years ago, you would not even hear then mention of them. You might have seen something about them in a write-up in a trade magazine, or an ad for them. It was about the same with the "eye-caps" At the same time, a lot of FD still used sutures, when needed to close a problematic mouth. The "newer" people in the biz, started using the needle injector, while the "old hands" still used the sutures, until they finally tried the "new way" with the closure needle and wire assemblies. With the use of them, you are able to leave the jaws, with the about the same space as if the dentures were still in place just as if the natural teeth were there. I personally never really cared for the "look" that was the result of hand suturing the mouth closed. It always seemed to leave a strange looking philtrum. Well, maybe not strange, but different looking than the way it appeared in life.

I sometimes wonder, if in the future, what the "beings" or even our own species many, many centuries, or even many millenniums from now, may think of us, if at some time unearth some of our cemeteries? Would they be trying to figure out why some of the remains they may find, have little nails and wires that had been used to close someone's mouth? Would they think it may have been some type of punishment, or possibly a way that people were executed, by having their mouths permanently wired shut? Then, what would they think about some remains having all sorts of electronic, metal or plastic devices "installed" and others not? Carrera.

Carrera_3.2 · #**4309** 10-28-2009, 07:25 PM

I am trying to figure out if my meds have totally screwed me up or not, because I think this thread has been moved from where it had been......

Then again, maybe it has always been in this section??

FizzyGrissom · #**4310** 10-28-2009, 08:00 PM

Nah, it was in "Everything Else" yesterday... My meds must be screwing me up too. Oh wait, I'm not on any...

Carrera_3.2 · #**4311** 10-28-2009, 08:33 PM

Damn, I thought that is where it had been...

stranger_than_strange · #**4312** 10-28-2009, 09:16 PM

The denture thing made me laugh because after 30 years of having no top teeth due to having them removed at a young age Dad finally had a plate made a few months back but no-one told him it would make him gag until he got used to it being in his mouth.
So when his time comes if we want the dentures in the casket with him we will have to retrieve them from his sock draw where they will probably remain for all eternity.

MbalmR · #**4313** 10-29-2009, 12:16 PM

Why did we get moved?

MbalmR · #**4314** 10-29-2009, 12:56 PM

I'll probably never get an answer. I asked two mods who are probably not online right now, which I understand, but I received no notification of this move, nor did I receive any reason as to why. It was just moved--no discussion at all.

I do hope that our friends who have questions and concerns will find us, as I believe that this thread is valuable for information and comfort.

duchessmary · #**4315** 10-29-2009, 03:56 PM

Did I miss something? I didnt' notice~

Carrera_3.2 · #**4316** 10-29-2009, 04:41 PM

I guess we just took a short trip from where we were, to here. At first I thought that I had made a mistake about the location, and I checked 3 pages of where we had been, looking for it. I had to check a previous post of mine to find it. Carrera.

Carrera_3.2 · #**4317** 10-29-2009, 06:39 PM

Did anyone watch the first season of "Six Feet Under" I liked it better than the later seasons, because of the fake commercials they had about some of the supplies to be used in the prep-room. Carrera.

MbalmR · #**4318** 10-30-2009, 09:08 AM

Those commercials were GREAT!!! I loved them. I think that show was mostly well done.

I'm not happy about being moved here, but them's the breaks, I guess. I hope people with questions will continue to find us, as I truly believe that this thread is loaded with valuable information, comfort, and advice.

Carrera_3.2 · #**4319** 10-30-2009, 01:59 PM

I don't really understand about the move, but I found it after hunting around a bit.

Yes, the "commercials" were pretty decent. Some were very close to some of the trade magazines advertisements. "Casket and Sunnyside" was always a favorite trade magazine of mine. There were always a lot of good articles and new things for the biz. It used to come out twice a month, while I was in the biz, but I heard that it went down to just a monthly magazine, and then shut down in 1988. It had a good run though, 117 years of publication! Carrera.

anne · #**4320** 10-31-2009, 01:02 AM

Happy Halloween!
Tonight i will raise a glass to Carrera, for surviving the gunshot on this day some years ago.

MbalmR · #**4321** 10-31-2009, 06:40 AM

Whoa, gun shot??????.....Dear Lord.

I'll raise my glass of V-8 juice to you too, Carrera! And happy Halloween to all death hags out there! Day of the Dead is coming soon, also!

MaxyMillions · #**4322** 10-31-2009, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carrera_3.2

Did anyone watch the first season of "Six Feet Under" I liked it better than the later seasons, because of the fake commercials they had about some of the supplies to be used in the prep-room. Carrera.

Loved, loved, loved that first season! I don't know how long it lasted, but I think I only saw the first 2 seasons before some random personal budget cut gave HBO the ax. The commercials were great!

MaxyMillions · #**4323** 10-31-2009, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MbalmR

I'll probably never get an answer. I asked two mods who are probably not online right now, which I understand, but I received no notification of this move, nor did I receive any reason as to why. It was just moved--no discussion at all.

I do hope that our friends who have questions and concerns will find us, as I believe that this thread is valuable for information and comfort.

That was random and weird....I looked all over for the thread, I'm just glad I found it. It's an incredibly valuable (and valued) thread!

I hope you get some explanation Annie-threads and members are disappearing around here like mad!

MaxyMillions · #**4324** 10-31-2009, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anne

Happy Halloween!
Tonight i will raise a glass to Carrera, for surviving the gunshot on this day some years ago.

***raises glass to toast** Here's to you, Carrera! Hope this Halloween is a fun and safe one! Just wear a helmet and vest if you need to leave the house, ok?

MbalmR · #**4325** 10-31-2009, 08:05 AM

Who would shoot a funeral director?

Oh, wait...........I can think of one I wouldn't mind seeing hit by a bus.

Carrera_3.2 · #**4326** 10-31-2009, 09:29 AM

A bus... too funny!!

coffee on screen...

Carrera_3.2 · #**4327** 10-31-2009, 09:37 AM

My thanks to all for the thoughts! M, the first time was Halloween 1976, after I changed profession to LEO. 33yrs ago tonight. My how time flies... even if you aren't having fun! Carrera.

princess_oasis · #**4328** 10-31-2009, 09:39 AM

Hi, omg , i love this thread, im only on page 14 though so ive got a looooong way to go.

Annie, could i ask you if you think River Phoenix was embalmed or not ?
http://www.findadeath.com/Deceased/p...nix/casket.jpg

Thanks xx

MbalmR · #**4329** 10-31-2009, 10:32 AM

For princess: I've heard conflicting reports as to whether Mr. Phoenix was indeed embalmed or not. Personally, it doesn't look to me like he was, but if he was, the embalmer did a dreadfully unacceptable job. Aside from the fact that his lips are parted, his color is just wrong.

There is no law requiring embalming in the United States. It is up to individual funeral homes to make policy re: public viewing, and most all that I know of require embalming for such an event. I'm sorry that I can't more accurately answer your question.

Thanks for hanging in there with this thread. It's a lot to digest.

princess_oasis · #**4330** 10-31-2009, 10:56 AM

Hi Annie, im on page 16 now and you explained about River Phoenix on that page, thanks alot.

Its going to take me ages but i cant wait to read the rest of it x

MaxyMillions · #**4331** 10-31-2009, 02:43 PM

OK, experts, I've got a question. I am reading a book that says Jackie Kennedy was embalmed in her home. How is that possible? How could it be...sanitary? I have all sorts of images of the bathroom looking like the shower-stall scene in Scarface!

Although, I imagine Jackie had a bigger bathroom, but sheesh!

jarrett622 · #**4332** 10-31-2009, 04:27 PM

Sigh at the moving of the thread. And C...I'm so glad you made it through the gunshot! Where would this thread be without your war stories? Well, other than moved to the basement which is in some ways fitting.