Hi,
This seems like possibly my only hope for a solution or answer to the issues I face today, so I hope some kind person has the knowledge to give me some advice.
I imagine many or even most of you know of the problem of osteoradionecrosis of the jaw and the implications for having teeth extracted after radiation and chemotherapy treatments involving cancer in the head/oral cavity.
I am 62 years old and in 2000 I underwent the full course radiation as well as chemo for my tumor, which, while not in my mouth per se, was distorting my upper palate and causing severe dental pain long before it was properly diagnosed.
I had some teeth pulled before the diagnoses just to alleviate the pain, but it turned out that was unnecessary. I had no way to know it.
Now, nearly 6 years later, my mouth is in a pitiful state. Almost all of my teeth are broken off at the gum line. The couple that aren't are a bit loose and decaying. And, so far, it seems that what dentists that I can see in my area are completely afraid to pull even one of those teeth due to the strong possiblity of developing osteoradionecrosis as a result. I am also told that the severity of this problem, if it happens, is enhanced by the time that has passed since the radiation treatments.
With no one willing to pull what is left of the remaining dental material, I have no chance of having dentures. It seems I am doomed to life with no teeth, and the remnants being very ugly.
Naturally, this robs me of my dignity and makes me no longer willing to go out in public.
My thought at this point is, can anyone comment on the possibility of simply grinding down the remaining "teeth" (hardly an apt description) to below the gum level, and having a cosmetic pair of full dentures made simply for appearance sake and to keep my facial features from altering severely?
It would not be necessary to use them to chew, just to make me look like a semi-normal human being for a change.
Or perhaps someone has other ideas. I would greatly appreciate any thoughts or suggestions.
Thank you.

In the After Treatment Issues forum there is a thread entitled "long term effect on teeth from radiation" (started March 2006) that has information on ORN. It may not deal directly with a situation like yours, but it will allow you to get in contact with people who are knowledgeable about this. I'd particularly recommend wilckdds, who is a dentist and an oral cancer survivor. You can get in touch with him directly by clicking on the e-mail or private message icons next to the date of his post.

You can also do a general search of the forums for "osteoradionecrosis." (The search link is at the top of each page, underneath and just to the left of the photographs.)

All the best --
Leslie

There is hope and here is why: I lost several teeth due to radiation. When it became necessary to pull them, I first underwent 30 sessions in a hyberic oxygen chamber, which causes new blood vessels to temporarily form in the jaw bone, which subsequently allows the bone to heal after the trauma of extraction. When my lower teeth were extracted, I had titanium implants placed into the bone. When that was all healed, very nice teeth were made which screw onto them and work every bit as well as real teeth. My medical insurance paid for the hyberbaric therapy.

If you have questions about this procedure, feel free to contact me. I am very, very pleased with the results and I know how you feel because when three teeth broke off in one day, I was quite upset.

Joanna

As mentioned above by Leslie and Joanna, you should find out all about HBO treatments.

I did want to address your thoughts about grinding the teeth down and leaving the roots there. This is not anything that could or should be done. The reason for this is that you have to remove the roots in order to get rid of the infection. It is essential that you find a dentist that has experience in treating oral cancer patients. I would suggest that you contact the nearest dental school or comprehensive cancer center to get some names.

Good luck and you can contact me if you need any other advice.

Jerry