#84668 11-22-2008 05:25 PM | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 489 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 489 | I am concerned about the dental work. We did not have time to pull any more teeth and wait for the healing prior to RT. I have an excellent mallifaxol surgeon, but what type of dentist do I need for checkups and things? My old dentist has no clue about H&N, radiation or what the effects are on your teeth.
Has anyone with a flap gotten dentures or any type of teeth replacement? I think that it would help to make my bottom lip look more normal. How does it affect your speech?? My surgeon says that it is possible for me to get dentures or even implants - I do not think this is correct. Does anyone have any information on this?
48 SCC Floor of Mouth 7/06 9/06 Surgery, bilateral neck dissection, 58 nodes clear PT2pN0pMx 35 rad 2006 Recurred 6/08, 1 Carboplatin, 1 Cisplatin Surgery 9/08 - Total glossectomy, free flap from pectoral muscle, left mandible replaced using fibula 35 IMRT & Erbitux 11/08 4/15/09 recurrence 6/1/09 passed away, rest in peace
| | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 | Get a recommendation from your surgeon for a dentist familiar with post-radiation work. Although I have no personal experience with post-radiation dental work involving the bone (yet...), my understanding from reading this forum is that implants are possible.
Age 67 1/2 Ventral Tongue SCC T2N0M0G1 10/05 Anterior Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 6/08 Base of Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 12/08 Three partial glossectomy (10/05,11/05,6/08), PEG, 37 XRT 66.6 Gy 1/06 Neck dissection, trach, PEG & forearm free flap (6/08) Total glossectomy, trach, PEG & thigh free flap (12/08) On August 21, 2010 at 9:20 am, Pete went off to play with the ratties in the sky.
| | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | You need to find a prosthodontist that has experience with post-radiation patients.
Try looking in the Yellow Pages under the dentist specialty guide and if none are listed try calling the local or state dental society to try to find one.
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
| | | | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 551 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: May 2008 Posts: 551 | You can easily find a prosthondontist on the American College of Prosthodontists website. Just enter your zip code: http://www.prosthodontics.org/patients/find.asp
Stage IV SCC lt lateral tongue, surgery 5/19/08 (partial gloss/upper neck dissection left side/radial free flap reconstruction) IMRT w/weekly Cisplatin & Erbitux 6/30/08, PEG 1 6/12/08 - out 7/14 (in abdominal wall, not stomach), PEG 2 7/23/08 - out 11/20/08, Tx done 8/18/08 Second SCC tumor, Stage 1, rt mobile tongue, removed 10/18/2016, right neck dissection 12/9/2016 Third SCC tumor, diagnosed, 4/19/2108, rt submandibular mass, HPV-, IMRT w/ weekly Cisplatin, 5/9 - 6/25/2018, PEG 3 5/31/2018
| | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 489 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 489 | You guys are AWSOME. I would really like to think that someday I might look a little less mangled. Sometimes I scare children at church and it just upsets me to think that I will look like a monster forever. I am not vain, please don't get me wrong. The first time I saw myself in the mirror post surgery I did not know who it was. I look better than that now, 7 weeks later. I'm sure that time will help, but so would some teeth!!
48 SCC Floor of Mouth 7/06 9/06 Surgery, bilateral neck dissection, 58 nodes clear PT2pN0pMx 35 rad 2006 Recurred 6/08, 1 Carboplatin, 1 Cisplatin Surgery 9/08 - Total glossectomy, free flap from pectoral muscle, left mandible replaced using fibula 35 IMRT & Erbitux 11/08 4/15/09 recurrence 6/1/09 passed away, rest in peace
| | | | Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 309 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 309 | children are forever bombarded with images on tv etc. and do not understand, so please do not take it personally. it is so hard when we lose the image of ourselves due to disease, but this is when we draw on the inside to remain focused on the fact that we have not changed, just the outward appearance. let close friends and family affirm this for you and never take the negative to heart and know that it will all improve with time. there is a man here locally that has a rare disease that causes his face to grow multiple benign tumors ... we are talking huge and disfiguring - he calls it elephant man. he works at a safeway as a cashier and everyone loves him, though children he said cry and scream when they see him at times but he is so loving and such an awesome person ... anyways the community raised the money for him to have surgery to fix it ... very expensive surgery but he just went for it a few weeks ago ... it was touching. i said all that to say this ... people (who matter) will see you for who you are ... children will come around as they understand, and the people who do not see the real you, didn;t matter anyway in the scheme of things. you are awesome, and never think otherwise
Rita - Age 44 wife, mother of 4 - ages 3,16,21,24 & grandma to 1 (R upper) Maxillectomy 8/8/08 - UW / Seattle, WA.
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"Those who think by the inch and speak by the yard, should be kicked by the foot."
| | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 531 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 531 | I had my teeth removed over six years ago. My doctor told me that is what probably saved me from having the cancer infect my bones. The last few years before I had my teeth removed I was having severe trouble with my gums and would have had to have extensive work to save some of my teeth just to loose them soon after. It became a question of comfort and cost. A one time dentist appointment vs. root cannals, pulling drilling and fillings. After having them pulled I didn't have dentures for two years...Now all I can wear is my top dentures and am anxious to get my lower dentures back. It wasn't not having my teeth in that seemed to scare people it was the scar from the neck dissection, trach and skin graph. I was told in about six to eight months can check into new dentures and my doctor is sure they will be able to fit me.
Dianne..treatment at cc at Victoria Hospital, London, Ontario...insulin dependant, Surgery Sept 8/08 Tracheotomy,composite resection and bilateral neck dissection, left radial forearm free flap... T2N0 squamous cell carcinoma. No radiation A little over 2 yrs clear YAY
| | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 404 Likes: 2 "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) | "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 404 Likes: 2 |
I have had nearly all of my bottom teeth removed due to having to have just about all of my lower jaw bone (mandible) removed and reconstructed and will be starting the process of getting implants.
My maxillofacial surgeon has recommended the prosthodontist that I will be seeing.
Karen
46 yrs: Apr 07-SCC 80% entire tongue removed,T4N1M0 Neck/D,Jaw Split, Trache 2 ops,PEG 3.5yrs 30 x rad,6 x Cisplatin, 30 x HBO Apr'08- flap Recon + ORN Mandibulectomy (hip bone to reconstruct jaw) Oct'08 1 Plate out-jaw Mar'09 Debulk flap Sep'09/Jan&Nov'10/Feb&Jun'11/Jan&Jul'12/Oct'13/April'14-More surgery
| | | | Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 580 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 580 | Good1 You will find plenty of great information about dental care and post OC cancer treatment dental care on this site if you search previous posts. Ther are also many here who will offer their personal experiences and give you great advice. It sounds like your OMF surgeon is on the ball and as my colleague Jerry states, find a prosthodontist. Wether you have no teeth or a few teeth left, you still have the same treatment options that non-cancer patients have. The only difference being that their may be certain precautions and or limitations to the way the treatment is performed. I know that my statement is very vague but I would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Let me know if I can help. Cheers, Mike
Dentist since 1995, 12 year Cancer Survivor, Father, Husband, Thankful to so many who supported me on my journey so far, and more than happy to comfort a friend. Live, Laugh, Love & Learn.
| | | | Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,301 "OCF Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | "OCF Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,301 | 4 teeth removed bottom right to attach the flap so dentures or implants will never be an option. Therefore even though I have my own teeth on top right they don't have any work to do (except maybe fill out my cheek). If I lost these I would have to look at options if just for cosmetic reasons.
History Leukoplakia bx 8/2006 SCC floor mouth T3N0M0- Verrucous Carcinoma. 14 hour 0p SCC-Right ND/excision/marginal mandibulectomy 9/2006, 4 teeth removed, flap from wrist, trach-ng 6 days- no chemo/rad. 6 ops and debulking (flap/tongue join) + bx's 2006-2012. bx Jan 2012 Hyperkeratosis-Epithelial Dysplasia 24cm GIST tumour removed 8/2013. Indefinite Oral Chemo.
1/31/16 passed away peacefully surrounded by family
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