#82763 10-24-2008 02:57 PM | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 81 Senior Member (75+ posts) | OP  Senior Member (75+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 81 | I have a dental issue. I had a near total glossectomy in Feb 2004 with 2 months of radiation rwo months after. I visited my dentist about a year later and his x-rays showed a rear molar that might be slightly abcessed. The dentist called my cancer surgeon who felt extraction would be risky. The dentist put me on a water pic and electric brush regimen that seemed to head off problems. Recently that tooth has become looser and now I can wiggle it back and forth a little. Today it has become more of a problem and I feel it must be extracted because it is for the first time causing discomfort. I am scheduled to see the dentist Monday. Has anyone had a similar experience? I shopuld add that I am on a liquid diet.
Jim Haucke
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; 36 rad (3/04-5/04)therapy 12/04-12/05; 2 esophagus endoscopies; PEG infections Nov-Dec 06; embedded tube replaced by endoscopy Feb 07; replaced Sep 07; bleeding, tube removed Oct 07;dental issue Oct 08
Last edited by James Haucke; 10-24-2008 03:02 PM. Reason: Add information
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 211 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 211 | My husband has had about six teeth extracted post-treatment through a dentist specializing in cancer patients at Johns Hopkins (who trained at MD Anderson). He has had the posts put-in for implants already and has had no complications (although he needed some bone grafting? material in one location). Although he had his teeth checked prior to treatment, none were extracted at that time although we think that the extracted teeth were liksly somewhat vulnerable pre-cancer due to a serious accident he had 5 years ago that loosened most of these teeth. The extracted teeth were all on the side that was most heavily radiated as well.
Sophie T.
CG to husband: SCC Stage 4, T4, N1, M0; non-smoker and very light social drinker; HPV+
induction chemo begun 7/07; chemo/radiation ended 10/10, first cat scan clear; scan on 5/9/08 clear, scan on 10/08 clear; scan 1/09 clear; scan 1/10 clear; passed away July 2, 2016
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Jim,
Not quite sure what was meant by "slightly" abscessed. There are two types of abscesses that can be related to a tooth. One is at the tip of the root and is caused by the pulp (nerve) dying and the other is a periodontal (gum) abscess. Either of these can cause the tooth to get loose and either can be treated in most cases. It is a good idea to check out having hyperbaric oxygen treatments (HBO) before having a tooth extracted, if that is the end result.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any questions.
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 81 Senior Member (75+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (75+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 81 | Sophie and Jerry,
Thank you for your responses. I will certainly bring up those issues when I see my dentist in two days. I am providing him the names of my radiation oncologist and otolaryngologist who performed the surgery in 2004. As far as I know, only the last lower rear molar is affected and I don't use teeth as I am on an oral liquid diet (Carnation and Nestle's products with flavor packets for taste variety). However that molar since yesterday is quite uncomfortable so I feel I need something done fairly soon.
Jim | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Jim,
I was looking for an update. How did things go with your visit?
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 | Jim, how are things going? I have completed 39 of 40 dives, after Monday's dive, I will see my oral cancer doctor, he will decide whether the tooth comes out, if it does, I have 10 more dives. He was just so concerned about my bone in jaw dying from radiation....and so am I. Thanks for your input.
Jerry, let me know what you think of HBO? Thanks, Carol
Diagnosed May 2002 with Stage IV tongue cancer, two lymph nodes positive. Surgery to remove 1/2 tongue, neck dissection, 35 radiation treatments. 11/2007, diagnosed with cancer of soft palate, surgery 12/14/07, jaw split. 3/24/10, cancer on tongue behind flap, need petscan, surgery scheduled 4/16/10
---update passed away 8-27-11---
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Carol,
It is a must for any extractions or implants. For any procedure that involves manipulation of the bone, it should be done.
I hope things go well for you with the extraction.
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
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