Most of us have probably been told we don't have an option for implants, and your oncology dentist may have also told you that you cannot have extractions done (fear of tissue not healing).

In a SPOHNC support group meeting today, I found out some patients are able to get teeth extracted by doing 20 treatments in a hyperbolic chamber, then the extraction, then 10 more hyperbolic treatments.

May be good news to some.

Dental issues after radiation treatments has been discussed many times here. Unfortunately OC patients dont always have dental professionals who are up to date with all the specifics that go along with treating OC patients. Care must be used when finding the proper dental professional to treat OC patients. Many will use a prostiodontist (dentist who specializes is cancer/trauma patients).

The 20/10 HBO dives is called the Marx Protocol. This has been discussed many times on the forum. Over the years, I must have written art least 50 posts explaining it. Im sorry if you werent made aware of this before. Dental extractions and the Marx Protocol are on a case by case basis. Its questionable weather HBO is an option for patients who currently have cancer. HBO is used to help patients heal. Im a big fan, Ive done a record number of dives and it has worked wonders for me.

My apologies Christine. It was new information to me from a SPOHNC meeting today, and I'm 5 years post treatment!

I did recently learn about the risk of extraction after a front tooth broke off at the gum line... I'm waiting on a permanent bridge as we speak, after a root canal on the broken tooth.

I do have a well respected oncology dentist, and definitely recommend everyone find one of those!


If I ever have to do HBO, I want my dive certification reinstated! :-)

Even implants may be possible, in some, from a recent article i read, and some don't need HBOT depending on the areas radiated, dosage, type of radiation, where the extraction is, but they usually err on the side of caution and prescribe HBOT. As stared, it's best to consult with an oncology dentist and have your RO involved.

Good luck

Who do you see, Mike, and did you have a pre-treatment exam?

I go to Dr. Dennis Abbott in Garland/DFW Texas. He has a private dental oncology practice and also works out of the Baylor Cancer Center in downtown Dallas.

I did have a pre-treatment exam at the cancer center dental office and had two back teeth extracted prior to treatment.

I'm curious about the HBO treatments. I don't have any dental issues at the moment and have always practiced what my dentists have told me is excellent dental hygiene. But you never know.

Specifically, like many of you I've had damage to my ears (in my case the right one) from RT. I can't equalize... that is, my ENT told me not to try it. I'd been a diver so know about how to do it (and there went my diving career...). But I'm concerned that if I ever needed to go under 1 atmosphere I wouldn't be able to, hence HBO wouldn't be an option for me.

Am I assuming correctly that to do any HBO dives you need to clear your ears, aka the Valsalva maneuver?

They can put tubes in your ears, if needed. I never needed it for my HBOT treatments, although I have decreased hearing, and tinnitus, but once, out of 60 dives, I couldn't equalize, and that did start to hurt. I can equalize usually by just swallowing. We had I stop, start again, at a slower descent.

[quote=MikeC]I go to Dr. Dennis Abbott in Garland/DFW Texas. He has a private dental oncology practice and also works out of the Baylor Cancer Center in downtown Dallas.

I did have a pre-treatment exam at the cancer center dental office and had two back teeth extracted prior to treatment. [/quote]

Tell Norberto Ed said hello! We are having a survivor presentation in October at the Houston walk October 17, if you are interested, plus a walk here in Dallas next spring if you would like to help.

David, dont rule out HBO. Some facilities suggest tubes for all their HBO patients. If your doc ever advises you do HBO, you would have a consult with the HBO center's doctor. You would also have a tech monitor your vitals daily before and after a dive and see the HBO doctor on a weekly basis. At least thats how all the HBO facilities I went to worked.

Ive had tubes put in my ears on two occasions so I could do HBO. Getting tubes put in is no big deal. Sometimes it can even be done right in the ENT's office. I have very small ear canals, like a childs so I always had to get mine done in a hospital as an outpatient procedure. One time I felt fine, like I had nothing done at all but the second time I was pretty sore for that night and the next day.


PS, Mike its not big deal. I was just surprised you hadnt ever seen HBO discussed here as its a fairly common topic. If you use the search box in the upper right you can find just about anything you can think of related to OC on the forum.