| Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 117 Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 117 | I am getting ready for radiation TX (next week) and they just asked me if I had my dental trays done ? I have worn upper dentures for 10 years and only had 3 remaining lower teeth, which I had removed 10 days ago...... SO, do I still need the "dental trays" if I have no teeth ? Do they do anything to protect the gums or are they solely to protect any remaining teeth patients may have ? I didn't find any info in older posts that answered the question so any help is appreciated....... thanks in advance !!
DX 12/6/10 of T3 SCC Tongue. Surgery 1/3/11 was hemigloss & forearm free flap, midline mandibulectomy, Neck Disection-All nodes clear. Ended rads 5/11/11. Taste buds back to about 80%. PEG removed 4/5/12, experimenting eating real food again. If I can do this, so can you !! Stay Strong.
| | | | 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 | Since you do not have any teeth then you will not need to use the flouride trays. Whoever asked you that question wasnt paying attention. The trays are to protect the teeth.
Best of luck next week! 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: Feb 2011 Posts: 117 Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 117 | Christine: Thanks for the quick reply...... I was afraid that I had missed something along the way that I would have to scramble to get done. You always have the answers -- I appreciate you very much. You guys and gals are all so supportive.
DX 12/6/10 of T3 SCC Tongue. Surgery 1/3/11 was hemigloss & forearm free flap, midline mandibulectomy, Neck Disection-All nodes clear. Ended rads 5/11/11. Taste buds back to about 80%. PEG removed 4/5/12, experimenting eating real food again. If I can do this, so can you !! Stay Strong.
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 |
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April. --- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Actually that is not a bad question. When I was in treatment I used disposable foam trays to protect my tongue, a little, from the radiation side scatter, I think it worked, but I kept all of my teeth and have a lot of gold crowns on my molars, so many the side scatter was a bigger issue. I also used sterile cotton rolls on both sides of my tongue, which I got from the nurses station (until a figured about about the disposable trays).
But dental trays made by a dentist (for over 200 bucks) NO!
Gary Allsebrook *********************************** 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) ________________________________________________________ "You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | I can't even get dentures and that is permanent. Of course I might not have a jaw to put them over or on. You are lucky Gary. I would have settled for one tooth upper and one tooth lower.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April. --- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
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