| | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 188 Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP  Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 188 | A ? Dentist has referred a tooth extraction that he feels is directly related to radiation treatment (loss of saliva) to an oral surgeon. If not for the rads, the dentist would have just done it.
Should this be covered by medical or dental? (Medicare) Appreciate feedback.
Thanks! C
Caco
CG to Dad. Biopsy 5/11 non-op, SCC stage IV poorly dif at base of tongue with nodes, quit smoking in '85, ChemoRad began 8/2/11 ended 9/22/11 with NED. Distant mets 11/11, clinical trials. War raging on!
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | I don't know but likely he'll need HBO too. I would say medical though.
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 188 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 188 |
Caco
CG to Dad. Biopsy 5/11 non-op, SCC stage IV poorly dif at base of tongue with nodes, quit smoking in '85, ChemoRad began 8/2/11 ended 9/22/11 with NED. Distant mets 11/11, clinical trials. War raging on!
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 | HyperBaric Oxygen treatments known as 'dives' to promote healing.
CG to husband - SCC Tonsil T1N2M0 HPV+ Never Smoker
First symptoms 7/2010, DX 12/2010
TX 40 IRMT (1.8 gy) + 10 Cetuximab
PET Scans 6/2011 + 3/2012 clear, 5 year physical exam clear; chest CT's clear of cancer. On thyroid pills. Life is good.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 188 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 188 | Ahhh...oral surgeon claims that doesn't work for him as he has been taking zometa.
I need to talk with his oncologist. This all started because his dentist said his tooth needs to be pulled. He's had no pain (?)
I think we're in the midst of confusion, again. Dentist said he has abscess & dying tooth, easy pull. I challenged him concerned about healing and that he made the suggestion to my parents w/out consulting his MO. He then does that and refers dad to on oral surgeon who said he has no abscess (!) and should do more cleaning, and rinse and wait and see how goes.
My prognosis: he and his tooth will outlive us ;-)
Last edited by Caco; 06-28-2012 06:45 PM.
Caco
CG to Dad. Biopsy 5/11 non-op, SCC stage IV poorly dif at base of tongue with nodes, quit smoking in '85, ChemoRad began 8/2/11 ended 9/22/11 with NED. Distant mets 11/11, clinical trials. War raging on!
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 | Good grief, Caco.  Maybe the dentist has a boat payment coming due.
CG to husband - SCC Tonsil T1N2M0 HPV+ Never Smoker
First symptoms 7/2010, DX 12/2010
TX 40 IRMT (1.8 gy) + 10 Cetuximab
PET Scans 6/2011 + 3/2012 clear, 5 year physical exam clear; chest CT's clear of cancer. On thyroid pills. Life is good.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 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: 6 | Since your father did radiation already any tooth being pulled would need whats called the Marx Protocol. That is 20 HBO dives prior to the procedure and 10 after. Ive done 125 dives over the past few years. You go into a clear glass chamber and breathe pressurized oxygen for 2 hours a day. Its time consuming but it will help prevent osteoradionecrosis which would be far bigger problems (death of the jaw bone). Now here comes the real kicker.... HBO is NOT recommended for anyone who is currently going thru any cancer treatments as cancer loves oxygen and helps it to grow.
Let me know if you have other questions about any of this, I know it gets very complicated and confusing.
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: Jun 2011 Posts: 188 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 188 | Thx guys. I get it! He's on chemo AND zometa which is why I stuck my nose into his dentist's business. There are no "easy" procedures at this stage.
Caco
CG to Dad. Biopsy 5/11 non-op, SCC stage IV poorly dif at base of tongue with nodes, quit smoking in '85, ChemoRad began 8/2/11 ended 9/22/11 with NED. Distant mets 11/11, clinical trials. War raging on!
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