Hi,
This seems like possibly my only hope for a solution or answer to the issues I face today, so I hope some kind person has the knowledge to give me some advice.
I imagine many or even most of you know of the problem of osteoradionecrosis of the jaw and the implications for having teeth extracted after radiation and chemotherapy treatments involving cancer in the head/oral cavity.
I am 62 years old and in 2000 I underwent the full course radiation as well as chemo for my tumor, which, while not in my mouth per se, was distorting my upper palate and causing severe dental pain long before it was properly diagnosed.
I had some teeth pulled before the diagnoses just to alleviate the pain, but it turned out that was unnecessary. I had no way to know it.
Now, nearly 6 years later, my mouth is in a pitiful state. Almost all of my teeth are broken off at the gum line. The couple that aren't are a bit loose and decaying. And, so far, it seems that what dentists that I can see in my area are completely afraid to pull even one of those teeth due to the strong possiblity of developing osteoradionecrosis as a result. I am also told that the severity of this problem, if it happens, is enhanced by the time that has passed since the radiation treatments.
With no one willing to pull what is left of the remaining dental material, I have no chance of having dentures. It seems I am doomed to life with no teeth, and the remnants being very ugly.
Naturally, this robs me of my dignity and makes me no longer willing to go out in public.
My thought at this point is, can anyone comment on the possibility of simply grinding down the remaining "teeth" (hardly an apt description) to below the gum level, and having a cosmetic pair of full dentures made simply for appearance sake and to keep my facial features from altering severely?
It would not be necessary to use them to chew, just to make me look like a semi-normal human being for a change.
Or perhaps someone has other ideas. I would greatly appreciate any thoughts or suggestions.
Thank you.