Radiation damage to my teeth and gums

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Comments

  • denistd
    denistd Member Posts: 597
    #22
    Kent Cass said:

    Sheila
    I finished NPC tx in 4/09, and since have had one root canal and 2 Crowns, and 4 teeth rebuilt. Had a number of Crowns before C came my way, and they are the only teeth which have not suffered major damage. Need tops put on a number of other teeth. My gums seem to be about the same over the past 1 1/2-years, so your post has given me cause for concern. Was hoping the gums would stay the way they are, albeit with loss of tissue from the rads, so am inspecting them a bit more than before, now. Does get expensive, and does make one wonder if it wouldn't have been better to just get them all pulled before tx and go the denture route. Please keep us informed on how you're doing.

    kcass

    Teeth
    Hi Sheila, I too had good teeth before radiation, I had treatment in Spring of 2009. Early 2009 I had to have 4 teeth taken out, had HBO before and after extraction. The damage was done, slowly the remaining teeth started to decay and break off, my oral surgeon said, in August that they all should go (17 left) I agreed as the pain and visual appearance was a real downer. HBO again, 20 dives and then into the OR for the extractions, all went well. I now have false teeth, tough to get used to and the lack of a lot of saliva does not help, although 80% of my saliva has returned, the mouth still gets dry, funny though in that when the teeth first go in in the morning my mouth salivas up. The surgeon said no implants, did not want to go into the bone even though he said there was nothing wrong with the bone, that it was strong and healthy. I can open my mouth fully and have no other issues. the false teeth look good and I am very happy to be away from that pain, and smiling is back to normal, I used to get depressed in public as I felt a mouth full of broken teeth made me look like dracula. All the best. Denis
  • HydroLar
    HydroLar Member Posts: 14
    #23
    No saliva and receding gumline
    Hi Sheila, I was diagnosed with tonsil cancer and just finished radiation treatments 5 months ago when I started to notice that my gums are receding. This makes my teeth extremely sensitive to hot and cold as well as to concentrated sugar such as candy.

    After the diagnosis (I was 56 years old), a partial tonsilectomy, chemo, a stint in the ICU, radiation and a ruptured appendix (not related to cancer just an added bonus) I am shellshocked so sensitive teeth were not one of my concerns. My dentist had even talked to me about radiation killing my jawbone requiring bone grafts...

    I am not one to look back and second-guess all my questionable activites such as smoking for 25 years, bad diet, drinking, spicy foods so I am not too worried about it. I take precaustions such as seeing my dentist regularly, using teeth sensitive toothpaste and brushing teeth and gums lightly and regularly but if I eventually lose all of my teeth in spite of my precautions then what will be will be.

    I am just happy to be alive.
  • TereB
    TereB Member Posts: 286 Member
    #24
    Radiation Damage to Teeth
    I've had radiation twice in the head/neck area. Nobody said anything about the teeth but luckily my dentist had worked at M.D.Anderson and had experience with cancer patients. He knew what radiation did to teeth. I had my teeth cleaned every four months and used special toothpaste plus other Biotine products (including gum) for my dry mouth. My dentist was determined to save my teeth and it was years later when the upper ones had to come out. An oral surgeon did it because of the damage to my jaw bone. Before surgery I had 30 sessions in the oxygen chamber, surgery and 10 more oxygen chamber sessions. I had temporary upper dentures for about six months. Oral surgeon and dentist were waiting to see if the bone would accept the implants and not crumble. Well, the sessions in the oxygen chamber worked, my jaw bone took hold of the four implants and I now have an upper denture that works very well, no problems at all. As the years went by, one of my lower teeth started causing pain, dentist sent me to oral surgeon again, another 40 sessions in the oxygen chamber and oral surgery to remove all the lower teeth. I said to take them all out because I didn't want to go through this again and definitely didn't want toothache again. My teeth had "spots" on them caused by radiation. The oxygen chamber is great. It kept my jaw bone from crumbling and accepted the new three implants in the lower jay. I still have my temporary denture, waiting for the permanent one since the bone accepted the implants.

    I hated losing my teeth or knowing I had no real teeth and had to use dentures. Dryness in your mouth caused by radiation is really bad for teeth, it allows bacteria to stay in your mouth very happy because there is no saliva to push it away. I am glad I no longer have toothaches. The oxygen chamber was not bad at all and it really helped. Without it I wouldn't be able to have implants. I hate the lower temporary denture because it just wont stay still and it is harder to eat but it is temporary.

    Nobody mentioned things that would happen after radiation. My jaw doesn't open as much as it did before radiation but the dentist and oral surgeon can still work in there. My taste buds have changed; I no longer eat hot stuff (which I used to love) or anything with pepper or vinegar. I have no problems with cheesecake or chocolates that melt in my mouth. I just remembered my dentist also gave me fluoride treatments plus the trays. I think the fluoride plus cleaning every 4 months helped keep my teeth healthy for a long time. It was years after radiation that I lost my teeth. It helped that my dentist had experience with cancer patients and wanted me to keep my teeth for as long as possible. Had a good oral surgeon too. My teeth actually crumbled easily so surgery was better. Actually little pieces of tooth broke off sometimes.

    I hate saying I do not have teeth but it is not the end of the world. The denture with implants works great and my dentist is an artist. He made the denture and it looks like it was my own teeth. I cannot wait to get my lower dentures. I was told I didn't need to sleep without dentures but I do to let my gums rest at night. Easy to do since I am no longer 15 . . . or 25 or 35 . . . My husband and grown kids do not mind.

    I worried about my teeth for a long time, was embarrassed about loosing my teeth but it doesn't bother me anymore; it is something less to worry about, no more pain in my mouth or problems with teeth or gums. No ugly teeth anymore either. And the oxygen chamber not only helped so I could get the teeth out but also helped my gums and jaw bone.

    I have four implants on upper jaw and three on lower jaw. Dentures have special little thingy so they can attach to the implant. The dentures do not fall off or move, you can eat normally. As much as I hated the idea of having dentures before, it has worked very well for me.

    Hope this has helped you.
  • Crazymom
    Crazymom Member Posts: 339 Member
    #25
    TereB said:

    Radiation Damage to Teeth
    I've had radiation twice in the head/neck area. Nobody said anything about the teeth but luckily my dentist had worked at M.D.Anderson and had experience with cancer patients. He knew what radiation did to teeth. I had my teeth cleaned every four months and used special toothpaste plus other Biotine products (including gum) for my dry mouth. My dentist was determined to save my teeth and it was years later when the upper ones had to come out. An oral surgeon did it because of the damage to my jaw bone. Before surgery I had 30 sessions in the oxygen chamber, surgery and 10 more oxygen chamber sessions. I had temporary upper dentures for about six months. Oral surgeon and dentist were waiting to see if the bone would accept the implants and not crumble. Well, the sessions in the oxygen chamber worked, my jaw bone took hold of the four implants and I now have an upper denture that works very well, no problems at all. As the years went by, one of my lower teeth started causing pain, dentist sent me to oral surgeon again, another 40 sessions in the oxygen chamber and oral surgery to remove all the lower teeth. I said to take them all out because I didn't want to go through this again and definitely didn't want toothache again. My teeth had "spots" on them caused by radiation. The oxygen chamber is great. It kept my jaw bone from crumbling and accepted the new three implants in the lower jay. I still have my temporary denture, waiting for the permanent one since the bone accepted the implants.

    I hated losing my teeth or knowing I had no real teeth and had to use dentures. Dryness in your mouth caused by radiation is really bad for teeth, it allows bacteria to stay in your mouth very happy because there is no saliva to push it away. I am glad I no longer have toothaches. The oxygen chamber was not bad at all and it really helped. Without it I wouldn't be able to have implants. I hate the lower temporary denture because it just wont stay still and it is harder to eat but it is temporary.

    Nobody mentioned things that would happen after radiation. My jaw doesn't open as much as it did before radiation but the dentist and oral surgeon can still work in there. My taste buds have changed; I no longer eat hot stuff (which I used to love) or anything with pepper or vinegar. I have no problems with cheesecake or chocolates that melt in my mouth. I just remembered my dentist also gave me fluoride treatments plus the trays. I think the fluoride plus cleaning every 4 months helped keep my teeth healthy for a long time. It was years after radiation that I lost my teeth. It helped that my dentist had experience with cancer patients and wanted me to keep my teeth for as long as possible. Had a good oral surgeon too. My teeth actually crumbled easily so surgery was better. Actually little pieces of tooth broke off sometimes.

    I hate saying I do not have teeth but it is not the end of the world. The denture with implants works great and my dentist is an artist. He made the denture and it looks like it was my own teeth. I cannot wait to get my lower dentures. I was told I didn't need to sleep without dentures but I do to let my gums rest at night. Easy to do since I am no longer 15 . . . or 25 or 35 . . . My husband and grown kids do not mind.

    I worried about my teeth for a long time, was embarrassed about loosing my teeth but it doesn't bother me anymore; it is something less to worry about, no more pain in my mouth or problems with teeth or gums. No ugly teeth anymore either. And the oxygen chamber not only helped so I could get the teeth out but also helped my gums and jaw bone.

    I have four implants on upper jaw and three on lower jaw. Dentures have special little thingy so they can attach to the implant. The dentures do not fall off or move, you can eat normally. As much as I hated the idea of having dentures before, it has worked very well for me.

    Hope this has helped you.

    Dentist
    Is your dentist in Houston...just wondering since you said he worked at MD Anderson. I would love to have a second opinion on my teeth. I am new and just started Chemo at MD Anderson. They checked my teeth and said they were find. The radiation will start in about 4 weeks. If your dentist is in Houston I would love to get the name. Ann
  • HAWVET
    HAWVET Member Posts: 318
    #26
    Crazymom said:

    Dentist
    Is your dentist in Houston...just wondering since you said he worked at MD Anderson. I would love to have a second opinion on my teeth. I am new and just started Chemo at MD Anderson. They checked my teeth and said they were find. The radiation will start in about 4 weeks. If your dentist is in Houston I would love to get the name. Ann

    My last radiation treatment
    My last radiation treatment was in June 1998. My saliva never returned and has gotten progressively worse (probably due to aging). I have been having my teeth cleaned every four months.

    I was not given the tray, but have been brushing with that prescription fluoride toothpaste. I also rinse my mouth with Act each night before going to bed. I have a couple of teeth that was probably repaired three times. I think I have lost 3 teeth since the cancer, had two root canals (lost one of them).

    Dentist say my teeth is rotting more and wants to do two more root canals. I wear partials on the lower level. Food tends to get stuck more on the parcels.
  • jtl
    jtl Member Posts: 456
    #27
    Teeth
    I am pretty recent but so far my teeth are fine. Had a check up this week. If I need anything close to major work I am going to check out Mexico or Puerto Rico. I have heard from people that it is WAY cheaper and the quality is just as good as most US dentists.
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #28
    Dad gummit
    Hi Sheila,

    Your problems seem to be fairly constant across this board. There is though a pretty wide variance it seems about who gets hit hardest, soonest. My saliva came back relatively fast, within 6-8 months of treatment. I asked my medical onc if that fact would help me maintain my teeth. He said no, the damage--radiation--had already been done. I believe he's wrong and an early return to spit can help. He's one of those cup-always-empty docs anyway, or I should say, "was one" since I have left his care.

    But unfortunately, your problems are too often repeated here.

    best, Hal
  • NegroniSJ1
    NegroniSJ1 Member Posts: 1
    edited November 2017 #29
    tooth loss

    I had oral cancer surgery over a year ago and had my teeth examined and cleaned and filled as needed before the 30 radiation treatments. I have and am still using fluoride gel and also fluoride toothpaste, but still have had three teeth removed due to decay, in addition to one during my initial surgery. I am sure it could have been worse, and when I'm confident no more radiation or surgery will be needed, then I'll look into replacements or dentures.

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