I have recently been posting under the After Treatment Forum about my husband's developing dental issues.

He is 5 years post chemoradiation (IMRT). One root canal was done, several years ago, and now more serious developments. Wisdom tooth and possibly another molar, on irradiated side, need extraction. He is being evaluated for HBOT. Are extractions ever successful under these circumstances, without developing ORN?

I have been angry that his wisdom teeth were not extracted prior to staring tx. I see from these posts that if it's not one thing, it's another. However, I think that on our forum for new patients, when we advise thyroid testing, dental exam, dental trays, etc., we should add dental exam by Dentist EXPERIENCED with ORAL CANCER.

Has anyone been advised to get a root canal prior to HBOT, even when the tooth will be extracted? One oral surgeon suggested this as a way to avoid the tooth possibly "blowing up" by delay from HBO and requiring an emergency extraction.

Bob's recovery, after the first year, has been better than I expected, but it sounds like I need to brace myself for continuing complications now.

Lottie