Hello all,
Well, I thought I was going to breath deeply after having my peg removed, but now I HAVE a new hurt. The swelling under my chin and jaw have gone down dramatically and along with that, inside of my jaw. Now my jaw is rubbing on the outside of my jaw tooth. My ent said it was my filling. After having arch bars months ago, i AM SURE it was pulled loose somehow. My ent said he was not a dentist and could not help me. But, my jaw was partially removed and the implant failed, so it swings. How would I have a tooth fixed in that jaw area. Should I go to a specialist. I am so scared and cannot sleep at night because of the rubbing and bleeding.
Any thoughts? Bless you all.

I have no idea what you are experiencing but it sounds horrible and painful. DEFINITELY SEE A DENTIST (of course that's my opinion). you should have seen a dentist before any type of radiation or surgery. I would try that one first then on to an oral surgeon.

Peace,

I'm sorry to hear that you are having so much pain and so many problems. I am finding it hard to to understand exactly what it is that you are experiencing and I am a dentist.

It seems like your ENT is dropping the ball if all he can say is he is not a dentist. Why isn't he helping you find someone that can help? Who did the implant that failed and what have they done about it? Have you checked with him/her?

You should try to get the name of a prosthodontist that works with oral cancer patients as he/she would be best equipped to try to get you some relief from your pain. Perhaps you could look up the phone number of the local dental society and get some names. Also the hospital where you were treated may know of one.

Good luck in finding someone.

Jerry

Peace,

It must be terrible to have constant pain in that area. I didn't have any jaw removal but had a near total glossectomy and lots of reconstructive oral surgery and lots of radiation thereafter.

My dentist took some x-rays about a year after that and found some trouble spots. Before he would fill them, he checked with my ENT who said no to any work like that due to the radiation and defineitely no extractions. I had some pain in one area of a particular tooth.

What he did was put me on an electric toothbrush and water pik that I use at least twice aday plus semi-annual cleanings. This seems to have alleviate the pain and hopefully prolong the life of the teeth. I agree it would be a good idea to see a maxillofacial prosthodontist.

All the best,
Jim
SCC Rt lateral tongue Dx 9/03, Surg 11/03 (T2/N0M0);recur SCC BOT and anterior tongue Dx 1/04; surg 2/04 (T4/N0M0) subtotal glossectomy, forearm free flap, floor of mouth reconstruction,pharyngoplasty;trach until 3/04;PEG still have; 36 rad (3/04-5/04)therapy 12/04-12/05; 2 esophagus endoscopies

James

ENT said no to fillings, or was it deeper than that?

Kevin,

Actually what was involved was a suspected abcess under the lower left molar. One dentist suggested a root canal and the ENT said a definite no to that and any extractions given the level of radiation I had. The ENT was concerned about gum erosion or problems in the jawbone arising from any radical work on these teeth.

Jim

Peace,
Without access to x-rays I'm just shooting in the dark here but as Jerry stated get your self to a prosthodontist. This problem needs to be remidied if you are to have further chemo or radiation treatment. Inflammed tissues only worsens the often ugly side affects that chemo and radiation cause.
If your implant is mobile we can assume that it has/or is failing and needs to be stabilizied/removed/ and or replaced.

You gotta turn your fear of the problem around and seek some solutions by seeing the right people.

Take care of you!!

Mike

Thanks you all for the info.
I had arch bars put in my mouth after surgery and I am sure that is what has pulled my filling loose. Unfortunatly, it is on the side of my tooth and rubs against my cheek at night when I am asleep. I have been putting cotton soaked in biotene mouthwash for germs in my mouth at night so I can sleep. I cannot stand the thought of a dentist working on my tooth when my jaw swings back and forth. I just want to cry. There are no prosthodontists in my town in virginia. I am so upset, I will live with my jaw and all if I could just not be in pain.

Peace,
One thought that may be a very simple solution.
See a general dentist and ask for them to take a look and an x-ray and give you an opinion of what can be done. Let them know that you are not interested in treatment right now just an opinion. Your ENT has already told you he has no expertise in dentistry however, he felt compelled to give you an opinion that has lead to only fear and anxiety for you. He should have just made his first statement and left it up to you to seek an expert opinion. You can then take that information and at the very least be armed with it or pass it on to Jerry and myself and see if it is something that sits well with us. After all...the filling may be able to be simply adjusted or polished,or a temporary filling at the very least could be placed and it would relieve your problem and some of your pain and anxiety. Both of these solutions would be very quick, painless and require very little jaw manipulation.
With all that you have been through to find out a simple dental procedure could be done and solve the problem is worth the investigation and a lot easier than putting up with it.

Keep strong,
e-mail me if you want, anytime.

Mike

James,

I hate to hijack this thread, but I have to respond to the comment that your ENT said "no" to a root canal. There should be no reason to avoid a root canal and therefore allow an infection to remain in your jaw. Perhaps the ENT is not familiar with root canal treatment. The only concern should be for having extractions without HBO treatments. HBO is not necessary for root canals.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me or Mike.

Jerry

Thanks you guys, baby steps sound good. There are no prosothodontists in my area-where should aI look

By the way, what does a prosthodontis do-how could he help me, because of radiation?

Hello,
I dont know where in va you are but i am in richmond and have found a orel guy that knows about rad i have had one pulled with on prob at all. I just dont want to give anyone information that may not be good for them. If you want i will sene you his name and number and you make up your own mind.
paul

Paulie, please do-how does one go about getting
information on dentists other than name and
address.

Hi again,
I am sending this to you via pm
paul

Peace....

If you are near Richmond I can help you as well. Just let me know if you need the name and number. My Dad has a prosthodontist that he sees regularly.

Joy

Peace,

Here is a link for you to use if you are not near Richmond and can use the referrals above: http://www.prosthodontics.org/patients/find.asp just fill out the form with your zip code.

This is a link to a web site of two friends of mine that are prosthodontists. http://dentalimplants-usa.com/prostho.html You can read about what they do and that they treat oral cancer patients.

I hope you find someone soon.

Jerry

Hey Jerry.
You have been so kind! I am going to go just get an opinion from the hospital dentist the oncologist sent me too and then run it by you guys. I cannot afford to lost my flap in my mouth, that was my last chance, that flap.
Thank you so mucn

Peace,
A prosthodontist has 2 to 3 years more trainging beyond dental school. They learn how to restore function in very difficult cases. They tend to deal wtih the whole mouth in cases that have had extensive destruction of the teeth, surgery to the jaws and supporting structures post cancer treatment or post surgery.
We are all capable of treateing theses cases however, prosthodontists pretty much stick to this type of whole mouth rehabilitation as opposed to treating simple healthy one or two teeth cases.
It's a little more involved than that but that is the long and the short of it.
Hope all is getting better.
Cheers,
Mike

Hey guys,
Well, I made an appmt for next Wed. My mouth just hurts when I sleep but I am going to make my mind up. If it is a small fix, I will let him do it if it involves numbing and fixing. But if it is more, I will check it out with Mike and Jerry just to be safe. The radiation part scares me always and since I have a pectoral flap in my mouth, whenever anyone comes at it with a pick- I just scrunch up and wait to die. I will kee pyou posted. If it is serious, then I will leave the state if I have to see a prosthodonist. I pray that there is no more pain in my future.
Thanks you guys!

peace,

Bravo for you! I'll be waiting for the result of your visit.

Love

Mike

Glad to hear you have the appointment. I'll be waiting see what you find out.

Good luck.

Jerry

Dr. MIke, Jerry, I got news!

I hope you two will catch this sometime today because I am so anxious for your opinions. Well, trying to summarize, you know I first had reconstructive surgery with a bone in my back replacing a section of my jawbone. It did not take and I almost bleed to death 20 days later and so they have taken out the bone and left it as is.
The dentist today after looking at xrays says that where my jaw was cut off, then now it is resorbing?hope my wording is OK. A piece of bone is sticking through and that is what my pain of my cheek is. The back tooth is almost out of the bone and he says needs to be pulled in order to resist infection. He called my ENT(at my urging) and my ENT wants to see me ASAP. It is either that or they brought up the word cancer again. However, my cancerous lesion was on my gum, and even after removing my jawbone, their was no evidence of cancer in the jawbone itself.
Well, sorry for the long story, I have meded myself so much trying to be calm, that I will sit and stare for a bit.
I so hope to talk to you 2 later.
Thanks so much!
Debbie

Oh sorry, one more important thing! I had radiation for 3 days. I am scared to get teeth pulled. However, they say 3 days is OK-the picture of my tooth on the exray really shows it is out of the bone and I guess too far gone. I want to know if the bone loss will ever stop! He says it is normal and that it usually just stops by itself.

peace,
I have been having monthly infusions of Zometa for my jaw-bone loss to slow it down.
So far it seems to be working--no increased swelling in area and only a bit more pain than I already had in lips where the bone is so eroded it's exposed a nerve

Brenda

Brenda,
Have you had to have teeth pulled?

I already had full dentures--lost all my teeth in late teens after being treated with huge doses of sulphonamides for pneumonia and whooping cough over a 4-month period. They all just crumbled!
So although I don't have the worries of having/not having teeth pulled, when pain and swelling is bad, I never leave the house if I can't get my dentures in!

Brenda

Has anyone out there lost any of their jawbones?

Anyone had hyperbaric oxygen treatments?

Peace --

To find people who have had or needed to know about HBO treatments, do a search of the boards using hyperbaric as your search term. (Link is at the top center of each forum page.) More than 120 posts pop up.

-- Leslie

Brenda,
What happens when your bone goes, does ones face just cave in? I am so scared.

This thread may answer your question about people here who have had jawbone surgery.

-- Leslie

Oh Peace,
You just brought up one of my worst fears!
Yup---I guess it will just cave in, or worse, the tumour will 'break through' to the outside and become a whole suppurating mess.
I'm also scared stupid cos my lung (Primary) gives me NO problems, but am still here because it was jaw problems in the first place which have 'eased' since biopsy in May, but, if I'm truthful, are coming back--the pain is increasing, I feel lumps around the painful bits inside lip and into jaw, and the doc has already told me 'it's gonna grow/gat worse'.
I really have no idea Peace, and docs won't tell me exactly WHAT is gonna happen and oh boy---I'm as scared as you, believe me!
HOWEVER!!!!!! I AM DIAGNOSED as incurable. YOU aint!
So read everyone's posts about survivor stories and recovery and stuff, get some anti-anxiety meds, and keep living!
I've just done all the practical stuff I can like will-making, letters to important people, researching hospice care and pain-relief and DNR and stuff----and just carry on 'living and enjoying'
Sorry peace if this sounds not as positive as I generally try to post.
My jaw-bone is already precariously thin--can anyone answer our initial question---does face just cave in???
Brenda

My jawbone was removed and replaced with bone from my back. However, it failed and I almost bled to death,they removed the bone and had to leave it as is. So I have a partial lowerjawbone
I really don't need to read the other posts. I have been there and now I am losing what little I have left. It is scary-I am not being hysterical. Brenda, I am so sorry. I have a friend whose father has a primary in lung and has been coping and dealing with it for many years. It just never grows and we are so happy. You just never know, I quess.

You're not being hysterical peace, you're right, you're being human!
As you say 'we just never know'.
'prepare for the worst, hope for the best'
C'mon you guys--someone out there MUST know about what happens with non-exist/removed/thin jawbones??????????
brenda

Brenda, my only experience is with John's lower partial jaw bone replacement [with metal] that failed after several months- note, he fell, hit his face and that's what we think dislodged it- the rest of his jaw, upper and lower remained intact after the implant was removed- I know that's not the info you are seeking but it's all I have. Amy in the Ozarks

Hey you guys,
Well, I should havejust known. My ENt did a biopsy and now I will have to wait until WEd to find out. I either have the tooth pulled or ?
Scared but thanks to all.
Debbie

Hey,
I am barely holding on here. My ent has forgotten about me. I still have not heard about the biopsy. I have called his office repeatedly and told them how upset I am. He said he would call and still nothing. Today is my sons birthday and I am trying not to be depressed. How could he forget me?

Debbie,
Waiting is the hardest part. You are knocking yourself out worrying about what might be. Enjoy your sons birthday, relish in the smile on his face and find peace in his innocence. He loves you no matter what.

We're all thinking about you and praying for you.

Mike

Thanks Dr. Mike,
I am learning to just live in the moment. You have to, don't you. There is no control. I just cannot believe he forgot me, but I will just pick up my findings on mon and take them to someone to read them.
Until then, I will just be busy and calm and happy to be alive.
Thsnks for listening
Debbie

Hi Debbie,

I'm sure I've already asked you this before, but what part of Virginia are you in?

I had the jaw surgery 4 years ago and they used bone from my leg. I did fine with it and it still is fine. Sorry to hear you had so much trouble with it If you ever want to talk, email me at [email protected] and I'll send you my cell phone number. It does wonders to talk to others and we're probably close enough that maybe we could get together!

Take care,
Minnie

Oh Minnie,
That would be great. I will send you a private email or you email me at XXXXXXXXXX with a number and I will call you. You are the busy one these days. I am in Roanoke, about 5 hours from you but nothing says we couldn't meet half way sometime or talk.
Do you still have surgery tuesday? Oh and who was that dr. at uva?
Debbie

Hey, you guys,
Got the results of the biopsy and thank the lord they were negative. I waited almost 2 weeks and paced the entire time. My prayers to those of you that must go through this agony.

That's news worthy of a big celebration! Sorry you had a stressful 2 weeks. I hope you are able to relax and relish in the wonderful news!

Thanks, it is just grand!

Debbie,

Just adding my congratulations. Go out and celebrate.

Jerry

Debbie - Great news! Unfortunately I know that feeling of waiting - but the feeling of relief is so wonderful! Enjoy every minute of it - you earned it with the worry...

Hey
Today I have to go back and maybe have that tooth pulled. The bone is gone and it is loose and hurting. I am going to ask for a bridge but I don't know without a bone what they can do. Do you Jerry or Mike?
I am afraid my jaw will be sunken even more than it is. Will this never stop!
I am scared
Debbie

Debbie---
I had my Zometa today and have been doing some more research on it and found an article which said it's now being used to treat head and neck cancer.
Also, what had had me worried was the possibility of jaw necrosis with it--as I have that anyway!!!--but apparently, if you have dental work done BEFORE starting the treatment, Zometa doesn't necessarily cause this, and it's pretty rare anyway.
My jaw doesn't appear to have shrunk any more over the last 4 months since I've been having the treatments, and the infusion only lasts 15 mins, flush before and after of course!
Brenda

Debbie,

In order to have a bridge, you must have a tooth in front of the space left from the extraction and a tooth behind it. If the bridge is replacing one tooth, it is called a 3 unit bridge.

Not knowing which teeth you have, it would be difficult for us to tell you what your options are. The amount of bone in the area of where the tooth is being extracted, is not really as important as is the amount of bone around the bridge supporting teeth. Bridge abutments must have good bone support for the bridge to succeed.

Hope this helps.

Jerry

hey Jerry,
I had a piece of bone pulled from outside of my gum yesterday. What a relief, I quess. (Just more of my bone gone) Dentist says not excited about pulling my tooth until it is loose or hurting.
Their is no tooth behind it becuase that is where they removed my wisdom tooth and the tooth in front of my wisdom tooth along with jawbone. There are teeth in front of it though. Can cantilever bridges be done sometimes. I just want to hold my face together. I cannot even chew on that side.
Thanks,
Debbie

Peace,

I'm glad to here you finally had the problem addressed. It wasn't all that bad I presume. My understanding is that; you had your wisdom tooth removed along with some bone, the next tooth is gone along with some bone, and the first molar is still present.
so,
Wisdom tooth(gone), second molar(gone), First molar (present).

If this is correct then you have a few options to restore function on that side, let me know if my assumptions are correct.
To answer your question, "Can cantilever bridges be done sometimes." The answer is yes but, they are not reccomended to replace back teeth due to the extreme forces that are placed on these teeth. The ones that I have seen have caused more harm than good and usually result in the loss of the supporting tooth.

Jerry, jump in anytime.

I hope this helps.

Cheers,

Mike