Hello everyone!

We've just had a virtual visit with a doctor from an Oral Surgery department and we're confused. We're 2 1/2 years since our last surgery, and three years post radiation.

Our otolaryngology cancer surgeon told us to get hyperbaric chamber treatments before having teeth pulled to lessen the odds of osteoradionecrosis. This oral surgeon told us that the benefits of HBO are sort of controversial. He said that if the tooth is loose it shouldn't damage the bone to remove it, and we might not need HBO treatments before hand. He also recommended that we have a general dentist look things over to see if any teeth can be saved before having teeth removed.

Do you all see a general dentist for your dental hygiene? I don't know why, but I was thinking we'd need a specialist after rads and two mandiblectomies. My dad's been quite resistant to having just anyone poking around in his mouth and he hasn't been to the dentist.

What questions did you ask to find a good dentist to work on you?

Does it matter where the tooth that's bothering you is located? My dad's had two mandiblectomies so he has 1 tooth left on the bottom, and just a few teeth on the top. The tooth that's bothering him is on the top, on the same side of his head as the area that was radiated.