After butting heads for a couple weeks DH finally had appointment with surgeon today re: PET. PET was clear and we moved to issues that should have been addressed before but hardheaded DH wouldn't pursue. All teeth were extracted prior to treatment and now he has what appears to be the root of a tooth protruding thru gum (explains a lot about the jaw pain he had for about 6 months or more) and we have appointment with dentist tomorrow if we aren't snowed in. Surgeon thinks if it will just pop out, fine, if not...grind down and wait for it to pop up again. Anybody had this experience?
Also, DH has been having difficulty for some time in laughing - chokes, can't get enough air. Breathing test done today...lung capacity is fine and surgeon thinks possibly vocal cords "sticking" due to mucous and dryness not letting air thru. Prescribed an inhaler - Dulera. Ran a search looking for similar problems and didn't really find anything. Anyone else have this kind of problem?

Congrats on the clear PET. Having a shard of leftover tooth sticking out of your gums is very very painful. Its happened to me several times. If any surgeries are being planned for this, make sure you question the doc about needing hyperbaric oxygen therapy. For tooth extractions after radiation you would need the Marx Protacol which is 20 HBO before the surgery and 10 after. This will prevent osteoradionecrosis which would be even more of a problem. Havent heard of the laughing problem on here before.

I am going to tack on here to see if I can get some information...do ALL oral radiation cause the need for HBO or does it vary person to person? Does the number of treatments make a difference?

I had a wisdom tooth removed in June, and had a lump on the side of my jaw all this time - through surgery and radiation. About 2 weeks out of radiation it finally got soft and quit hurting. (I had pointed this out to ALL the Dr.'s each time I visited!) Now that radiation is healing my mouth is "thawing" for the lack of a better term. I can open a little further each day, get back beside the teeth a little further each day, etc.

My ear had been hurting so I went to the Dr. on Monday. She noted I was swollen but felt OK and I go to ENT next week. She checked ear, it was clear. On Wed. I felt a sore back by where the wisdom tooth was removed (at the next tooth) and the next day I could see another spot on the gumline. I went to my dentist and I have an abscessed tooth. :o( I am on antibiotics and he suggested pulling it but said he wanted me to see/talk to my ENT surgeon before doing anything. So, Wed. I guess I go see the dentist at the cancer center.

My question is, does radiation automatically mean EVERYONE needs the HBO or is it a case by case situation? I really don't want to deal with a root canal and crown...I can't chew on the radiation side anyway they suggested so not having the one tooth won't really matter...but the 30 HBO treatments are going to be tricky!

Any ideas?

Michele in IL

Clear PET+Great News! I had a tooth extracted and then had pain (And yes, it seems most times I have a mouth pain it resonates into my left ear). Piece of tooth (Root) protruding into gum. Once it was ground down all was good. That was about a year ago! Also, I had a root canal about a month ago. It was a piece of cake with the exception of keeping my mouth open through it all. They tried wedges but the small one wasn't effective and larger ones wouldn't fit. the root canal itself was simple. All good I've never had HBO and did not have my teeth removed prior to treatment. I have lost a couple of teeth since and partner with my Oncologist and/or Surgeon prior to any dental work.

Steve

If you have the root canal and crown, you should not need the HBO treatments, however if you have the extraction, you will probably need 30 HBO treatments, 20 before and 10 after. I think I'd go for the crown unless you have other issues HBO would help.

Take care,
Eileen

After having radiation anyone who needs a tooth pulled should be doing the marx protocol. This is 20 hyperbaric oxygen dives prior to and 10 after the extraction. For simple dental work, fillings or root canals HBO is not necessary. It takes 2+ hours daily to do one HBO treatment. If you choose to not do HBO you can face a far worse treatment by getting osteoradionecrosis. This is very painful and you will need HBO to cure it. So do yourself a favor and if you need a tooth pulled make sure your ENT or oral surgeon sends you for HBO. If they say you dont need it, then they may not be familiar enough with oral cancer patients.