| Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 126 Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 126 | I have been trying to ignore it, but I don't think I can let it go ant longer. I have been having what I think is a tooth ache, for about a week now. It is especially sensitive to hot and cold, and of course it is on the only side that I can chew on. Have others experienced increase in dental problems following radiation? Successful treatment? I have heard that dental work after radiation is not a good combination.
Sharon, 57; Hard Palate; T1, High Grade, DX 6-12-09, Surgery, maxillectomy 7-14-09, 33 RT (9-2-09 to 10-19-09); Prothesis (obturator). None smoker, non drinker.
| | | | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | Hi Wheels, Dental extractions after radiation usually require HBO treatments before and after. Normal dental work including root canals are OK. Cavities are a major problem after radiation which is why almost everyone uses fluoride trays. Get an appointment and get it checked out. Hopefully it's nothing more than a cavity.
Take care, Eileen
---------------------- 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
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Radiation caused me to lose my teeth. They became very loose after radiation, so loose I couldnt chew properly. Eileen is correct with HBO being the norm for extractions. Regular dental work doesnt need that. After rad. extra attention must always be paid to your dental work. ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Sensitivity to cold is not usually as serious as to hot. Most likely the tooth will need root canal treatment and then a crown. As Eileen said, neither of these procedures will require any special precations due to having had radiation.
I hope you can get an appointment quickly.
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: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 | I am my dentists' retirement plan. I have 8 lower front teeth left and so far, 7 of them have had root canals & crowns. He finishes the crowns on two more tomorrow. That leaves on tooth bare nekked but it will be worked on soon - hopefully it can hang on until next year's dental plan allotment comes thru!
Since radiation (twice) I find my mouth takes forever to heal and all of these procedures have been very painful. It seems to take months for my gums/teeth to return to "normal" after a procedure. I eat T3's and try not to complain TOO much, as I am happy to have these 8 teeth for vanity's sake, and I am still here so I try to save my whining for the big ticket items.
My dentist isn't sure how long he can save these teeth for, but we're trying!
Donna
Last edited by Pandora99; 03-14-2010 10:15 PM.
Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
| | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 138 Senior Member (100+ posts) | Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 138 | I am a little more than 2.5 years post rad. My dentist made fluoride trays and prescribed Gel Kam fluoride gel that I use for about 10-20 mins every day. I also use the Prevident 5000 tooth paste for dry mouth, also prescription. I use the Biotene products as well. In spite of all this extra special care, I have had several teeth crack or chip off, and I have needed one root canal. I also have a cavity under a bridge that is just waiting for the dentist to decide what to do about it. The lack of saliva causes so many problems with tooth decay so it is very important to do all that you can to help prevent it. I suspect that I will eventually need HBO treatments for teeth that may need to be pulled in the future. Radiation side effects are the pits!
Nine years out. New normal with limitations, but surviving and living life to the fullest.
| | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | Like Donna, I have been helping my dentist support his family. No sooner was I done my first radiation and chemo TX then I had four root canals and four crowns. I was worried that I would or should get HBO but my prothodontist specializes in Head and Neck Cancer patients and was confident I didn't need it. See about getting flouride trays, as most of us now use them for life. I had a nice break of about a year after the recurrence with zero food in my mouth reducing the chance of decay and the sensitivity of the post surgery tissue making the flouride burn. But the extra second round of radiation prompted the prothodontist to insist I start back up on flouride trays if I wanted to keep my teeth. Just another example of how radiation is the gift that keeps on giving. 65 yr Old Frack Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+ 2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG 2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery 25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin Apaghia /G button 2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa 40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 126 Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 126 | Thanks for all of the responses. I did get in to see my dentist today. He took an x-ray and believes that it will need a root canal. He has referred me to a specialist for further eval. The problem is that I still can not open my mouth very well and he is not sure if they will be able to do the root canal. This is the same reason that I don't have flouride trays. Has anybody had dental work when still not able to open your mouth? I still use the therabite but I don't know that I am making any progress. Sharon
Sharon, 57; Hard Palate; T1, High Grade, DX 6-12-09, Surgery, maxillectomy 7-14-09, 33 RT (9-2-09 to 10-19-09); Prothesis (obturator). None smoker, non drinker.
| | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Depending on how far back the tooth is, it could still be done. Also, with the use of some nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and a special tool that can possibly open you mouth a little more and keep it open, it could be easier.
Good luck.
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 2009 Posts: 1,412 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 | I sure enjoyed reading this post. As I too have had some minor problems. Right now I have two loose teeth,but the dentist said they were not loose enough yet to do anything with especially since i am not eating solid foods yet.
Angelia 31 at Dx. DX: 4/30/09, 10/21/09 SCC on floor of mouth, T1NOMO, T2N1M0 TX: 39 IMRT, 8 cisplatin 11/30/09 PET/CT: 11/03/09: Lymph node involvement PEG/PORT: 11/09 TX end: 02/01/10 PET Scan: 04/05/10 clear PEG Out: 06/21/10 Biopsy: 12/23/10: fibrosis HBO: 01/04/11 - ORN Baby girl born 11-30-12
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