 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | Patti,
I have NEVER been given an antibiotic before or after dental scaling and cleaning.
Andrew,
I had a cleaning appt with my prosthodontist who specializes in oral cancer patients and he said he has never heard anything so silly. 2mm is nothing. He said if the patient has a 5mm pocket you scale to 5 mm because not getting the plaque out would create more problems. Basically you scale as deep as necessary to remove the plaque. I have several very deep pockets that I had even prior to radiation (my teeth have very long roots) and have never had a problem with them being scaled. I think I'd find a new dentist if I were you.
Take care,
Eileen
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Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
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