Hello all,
Well, I thought I was going to breath deeply after having my peg removed, but now I HAVE a new hurt. The swelling under my chin and jaw have gone down dramatically and along with that, inside of my jaw. Now my jaw is rubbing on the outside of my jaw tooth. My ent said it was my filling. After having arch bars months ago, i AM SURE it was pulled loose somehow. My ent said he was not a dentist and could not help me. But, my jaw was partially removed and the implant failed, so it swings. How would I have a tooth fixed in that jaw area. Should I go to a specialist. I am so scared and cannot sleep at night because of the rubbing and bleeding.
Any thoughts? Bless you all.

I have no idea what you are experiencing but it sounds horrible and painful. DEFINITELY SEE A DENTIST (of course that's my opinion). you should have seen a dentist before any type of radiation or surgery. I would try that one first then on to an oral surgeon.

Peace,

I'm sorry to hear that you are having so much pain and so many problems. I am finding it hard to to understand exactly what it is that you are experiencing and I am a dentist.

It seems like your ENT is dropping the ball if all he can say is he is not a dentist. Why isn't he helping you find someone that can help? Who did the implant that failed and what have they done about it? Have you checked with him/her?

You should try to get the name of a prosthodontist that works with oral cancer patients as he/she would be best equipped to try to get you some relief from your pain. Perhaps you could look up the phone number of the local dental society and get some names. Also the hospital where you were treated may know of one.

Good luck in finding someone.

Jerry

Peace,

It must be terrible to have constant pain in that area. I didn't have any jaw removal but had a near total glossectomy and lots of reconstructive oral surgery and lots of radiation thereafter.

My dentist took some x-rays about a year after that and found some trouble spots. Before he would fill them, he checked with my ENT who said no to any work like that due to the radiation and defineitely no extractions. I had some pain in one area of a particular tooth.

What he did was put me on an electric toothbrush and water pik that I use at least twice aday plus semi-annual cleanings. This seems to have alleviate the pain and hopefully prolong the life of the teeth. I agree it would be a good idea to see a maxillofacial prosthodontist.

All the best,
Jim
SCC Rt lateral tongue Dx 9/03, Surg 11/03 (T2/N0M0);recur SCC BOT and anterior tongue Dx 1/04; surg 2/04 (T4/N0M0) subtotal glossectomy, forearm free flap, floor of mouth reconstruction,pharyngoplasty;trach until 3/04;PEG still have; 36 rad (3/04-5/04)therapy 12/04-12/05; 2 esophagus endoscopies

James

ENT said no to fillings, or was it deeper than that?

Kevin,

Actually what was involved was a suspected abcess under the lower left molar. One dentist suggested a root canal and the ENT said a definite no to that and any extractions given the level of radiation I had. The ENT was concerned about gum erosion or problems in the jawbone arising from any radical work on these teeth.

Jim

Peace,
Without access to x-rays I'm just shooting in the dark here but as Jerry stated get your self to a prosthodontist. This problem needs to be remidied if you are to have further chemo or radiation treatment. Inflammed tissues only worsens the often ugly side affects that chemo and radiation cause.
If your implant is mobile we can assume that it has/or is failing and needs to be stabilizied/removed/ and or replaced.

You gotta turn your fear of the problem around and seek some solutions by seeing the right people.

Take care of you!!

Mike

Thanks you all for the info.
I had arch bars put in my mouth after surgery and I am sure that is what has pulled my filling loose. Unfortunatly, it is on the side of my tooth and rubs against my cheek at night when I am asleep. I have been putting cotton soaked in biotene mouthwash for germs in my mouth at night so I can sleep. I cannot stand the thought of a dentist working on my tooth when my jaw swings back and forth. I just want to cry. There are no prosthodontists in my town in virginia. I am so upset, I will live with my jaw and all if I could just not be in pain.

Peace,
One thought that may be a very simple solution.
See a general dentist and ask for them to take a look and an x-ray and give you an opinion of what can be done. Let them know that you are not interested in treatment right now just an opinion. Your ENT has already told you he has no expertise in dentistry however, he felt compelled to give you an opinion that has lead to only fear and anxiety for you. He should have just made his first statement and left it up to you to seek an expert opinion. You can then take that information and at the very least be armed with it or pass it on to Jerry and myself and see if it is something that sits well with us. After all...the filling may be able to be simply adjusted or polished,or a temporary filling at the very least could be placed and it would relieve your problem and some of your pain and anxiety. Both of these solutions would be very quick, painless and require very little jaw manipulation.
With all that you have been through to find out a simple dental procedure could be done and solve the problem is worth the investigation and a lot easier than putting up with it.

Keep strong,
e-mail me if you want, anytime.

Mike

James,

I hate to hijack this thread, but I have to respond to the comment that your ENT said "no" to a root canal. There should be no reason to avoid a root canal and therefore allow an infection to remain in your jaw. Perhaps the ENT is not familiar with root canal treatment. The only concern should be for having extractions without HBO treatments. HBO is not necessary for root canals.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me or Mike.

Jerry