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Joined: Feb 2011
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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.
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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!


Christine
SCC 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 smile
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 117
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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
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Joined: Jun 2007
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This one makes me smile.


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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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
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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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