 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Everyones teeth rot and decay after chemo and RT - it takes a lot of work to maintain dental hygiene/health while going through treatment but if your teeth haven't been well maintained (or you have gum disease) there is about a 10% chance of osteoradionecrosis - ORN (literally bone-radiation-death) a real bummer. Extractions post Tx are particularly bad news and it is a lifetime risk. HBO can mitigate these issues sometimes. It used to be SOP to pull the teeth but that attitude is "old school" now. Some RO's wouldn't even begin Tx without teeth removal first. IMHO I believe it to be a barbaric practice that needs careful consideration and multiple opinions due to the QOL issues and uncovered costs of the implants. Extractions will often be covered if done under a general in a hospital.
Implants are another issue - I have heard of them running 20K or more and rarely covered by insurance.
Gary Allsebrook
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Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
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"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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