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.

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

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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

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.

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.