I posted several days ago under the General Board regarding the importance of dental screening prior to radiation Tx. It seems that no such screening was done in my case early last year and now I am facing issues because of it. I have now learned that I will have to endure 20 2 hour rounds of hyperbaric oxygen treatment prior to the extraction of a lower right side wisdom tooth. I will then have to have 10 such treatments following the extraction, all of this as a guard against ORN.

The facility here in Atlanta where I am to have the treatments only has the individual hyperbaric chambers which I had a look at last week when I had the consult. I am hoping to be able to tolerate the close quarters of the units and would like to hear from anyone else who has had to have HBO treatments. I understand that the treatments do not guarantee against ORN but does anyone know to what degree the treatments improve the chances?

Bill D.

Bill

I go next week for my consultation for HBO treatments. Prior to my rad and chemo I went to an oral surgeon who pulled three back teeth on the right hand side. These were all the teeth he recommended pulling. Now I am having problems with other teeth and dentist is suggesting pulling more teeth, thus the HBO. Since you will be ahead of me slightly, and my treatments will also be in Atlanta, lets stay in touch with each other as we go through this process.

Good Luck and God Bless,
Judy

Hi,
Here are a few sites that can give you some info on HBO treatment. I have been involved in cases where I have done extractions post H&N radiation therapy where it has been used and cases where the patient was just placed on antibiotics. I follow the suggestions of the RO on a case by case basis. Some researchers say that the icidence of ORN can be reduced from 27% to <6% with HBO treatments prior to dental extraction, others don't support this data due to the fact that the sample size for the studies were small, there were some proprietory influences in some studies, and the studies were not double blind.
Talk to your RO's and ask their opinion.

Brian, Gary and Dileep do you wonderful gentleman have any thoughts or information to add here.

http://www.nhshealthquality.org/nhsqis/files/EN15_HBOT_Revision.pdf

http://www.cda-adc.ca/jcda/vol-67/issue-7/384.html

https://www.fhshealth.org/services/OsteoradPressurePoint.pdf

http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/dental/hyperbaric.htm

I hope this is useful.

Cheers,

Mike

Trying to imagine how you could possibly have a double-blind study on the efficacy of HBO therapy.......

Nelie,

I know, I'm just passing along the info. Shoot me if you want but that's the opinion of the nay sayers. It's not for me to agree or disagree.
I would just like someone to say, "Yes, HBO, it works, do it."

Cheers,

Mike

Hi, My husband needed all of his teeth pulled 9 months after treatment as the radiation weakened them and they were breaking. He needed HBO. Not only did he not have any complicatons with ORN but his healing from radiation and chemo treatment seemed to improve greatly. I believe that the oxygen helped to heal all the affected tissues.
Eileen

Mike, HBO works! Five years after I had it, I could not be healthier, or happier with the results. A side effect is often temporarily changed vision. In my case, the change has been permanent and I no longer need glasses. I had the sharp knives, evil death rays, and poisons, and this treatment was a piece of cake -- no pain, and revascularizaiton of the jaw so titanium implants could be placed and stay firmly placed. I am a true believer for sure!

Just a word,
I talked to my ent yesterday about possible HBO treatments after pulling my tooth. He wants to play wait and see with this tooth and infection because he says cancer cells love oxygen. Their could be microscopic latent cells that would really benefit from the oxygen treatments. It made me think- - caution.
Debbie

I had 45 treatments gave me 30 then pulled 26 teeth then I did 10 more after. I was told I healed fast because of it. The only bad thing I found was the drive there and back. The treatment was fun compared to the other stuff.

Debbie,

I heard the same thing about Cancer cells loving oxygen. I also heard it about sugar. I talked at length before I did my first HBO sessions with many health care professionals and ALL stated that there is not one ounce of proof that supports this theory. And you know what, if there are cancer cells in your mouth............they're going to come out of hiding whether you have HBO or not, right?
Take care,
Minnie