Widening the Mouth

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keep_the_faith
keep_the_faith Member Posts: 49
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Has anyone been able to widen their mouth after jaw surgery? My oncology dentist told me he can't get a drill in my mouth to fill a small cavity. I use tongue depressors in my mouth but I can't seem to get past using six sticks.
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Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #2
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    Hi Anne

    I use a Theriabite and Dynasplint and can only get 20mm of opening with the mouth. That is just barley enough for the dentist to do anything but he is going to try. My dentist is through MD Anderson in Houston so I know he knows what he is doing unlike many others that I have seen. I think 6 sticks it right about 18mm or so, so we are not too far off from each other

    Wishing you well
    ╠╣ONDO
  • keep_the_faith
    keep_the_faith Member Posts: 49
    #3
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    Hondo said:

    Hi Anne

    I use a Theriabite and Dynasplint and can only get 20mm of opening with the mouth. That is just barley enough for the dentist to do anything but he is going to try. My dentist is through MD Anderson in Houston so I know he knows what he is doing unlike many others that I have seen. I think 6 sticks it right about 18mm or so, so we are not too far off from each other

    Wishing you well
    ╠╣ONDO

    Hondo
    Do you see your mouth getting any wider?

    Anne
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #4
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    keep_the_faith said:

    Hondo
    Do you see your mouth getting any wider?

    Anne

    Hi Anne
    Not really I can only get 20mm of opening but remember I was radiated twice to the Head, mouth, neck and Jaw bone. So my muscle and nerves are more like fried bacon

    Wishing you well
    ╠╣ONDO
  • keep_the_faith
    keep_the_faith Member Posts: 49
    #5
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    Hondo said:

    Hi Anne
    Not really I can only get 20mm of opening but remember I was radiated twice to the Head, mouth, neck and Jaw bone. So my muscle and nerves are more like fried bacon

    Wishing you well
    ╠╣ONDO

    Hi Hondo
    My doctor told me my jawbone was that of an 80 yr old.

    Anne
  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    #6
    Options
    therapy
    You might consider physical therapy, where a professional can guide you through exercises that help to open the mouth, to move it side to side, and to have the jaw regain forward motion. This worked for me along with the therabyte, and the massages were great.

    My insurance covered this therapy, but I would agree that it is difficult to find therapists who are up on this particular stuff, so perhaps your ENT Man can point you in the right direction.

    With respect to the cavity, it is unacceptable to live with a cavity, clearly. When my dentist acknowledged he could not get to a particular molar (for the same reason as yours) he sent me to an oral surgeon, who could knock me out and do whatever evil things he needed to do in order to get to the tooth. It worked, but was expensive and my dental insurance would not cover it. It has been suggested that I should have gone through my medical instead, and next time I will give that a try, if a next time is needed.

    Good luck.

    Take care,

    Joe
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #7
    Options
    Hi Anne

    What Joe said is not a bad idea to consider getting so help. When I did the therapy to help with my Jaw it did not do any good because as I was too far out of treatment by that time. The equipment to help open the Jaw is quite expensive the Therabite is a little over $540.00 bucks and the Dyansplint is about $2,700.00 bucks. I have my old Therabite system that I don’t use anymore and it really needs a good home. So if you like PM me your address and I will send it to you free of charge and I will even pay for the shipping. I would just like to see it go to someone who really needs it, It also has a set of new pads with it.

    Here are some links so you can see what they look like
    http://www.craniorehab.com/therabite-jaw-motion-rehab-system.html
    http://www.shulman-associates.com/trismus_system.htm

    Wishing you the best
    ╠╣ONDO
  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    #8
    Options
    Hondo said:

    Hi Anne

    What Joe said is not a bad idea to consider getting so help. When I did the therapy to help with my Jaw it did not do any good because as I was too far out of treatment by that time. The equipment to help open the Jaw is quite expensive the Therabite is a little over $540.00 bucks and the Dyansplint is about $2,700.00 bucks. I have my old Therabite system that I don’t use anymore and it really needs a good home. So if you like PM me your address and I will send it to you free of charge and I will even pay for the shipping. I would just like to see it go to someone who really needs it, It also has a set of new pads with it.

    Here are some links so you can see what they look like
    http://www.craniorehab.com/therabite-jaw-motion-rehab-system.html
    http://www.shulman-associates.com/trismus_system.htm

    Wishing you the best
    ╠╣ONDO

    Good for you!
    I am impressed. I hope you two can work this out.

    Take care,

    Joe
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #9
    Options
    soccerfreaks said:

    therapy
    You might consider physical therapy, where a professional can guide you through exercises that help to open the mouth, to move it side to side, and to have the jaw regain forward motion. This worked for me along with the therabyte, and the massages were great.

    My insurance covered this therapy, but I would agree that it is difficult to find therapists who are up on this particular stuff, so perhaps your ENT Man can point you in the right direction.

    With respect to the cavity, it is unacceptable to live with a cavity, clearly. When my dentist acknowledged he could not get to a particular molar (for the same reason as yours) he sent me to an oral surgeon, who could knock me out and do whatever evil things he needed to do in order to get to the tooth. It worked, but was expensive and my dental insurance would not cover it. It has been suggested that I should have gone through my medical instead, and next time I will give that a try, if a next time is needed.

    Good luck.

    Take care,

    Joe

    Hey Joe
    Is there anything preventing you just starting over and submitting all this to medical? If not, go ahead and refile. I've had this come up before, and the medical paid because, well, it is medical when our mouths fall apart after radiation therapy. Medical paid well on my hyperbarics too. Thank god for that. I saw the original bill. It was over $33k.
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #10
    Options
    Hondo said:

    Hi Anne

    What Joe said is not a bad idea to consider getting so help. When I did the therapy to help with my Jaw it did not do any good because as I was too far out of treatment by that time. The equipment to help open the Jaw is quite expensive the Therabite is a little over $540.00 bucks and the Dyansplint is about $2,700.00 bucks. I have my old Therabite system that I don’t use anymore and it really needs a good home. So if you like PM me your address and I will send it to you free of charge and I will even pay for the shipping. I would just like to see it go to someone who really needs it, It also has a set of new pads with it.

    Here are some links so you can see what they look like
    http://www.craniorehab.com/therabite-jaw-motion-rehab-system.html
    http://www.shulman-associates.com/trismus_system.htm

    Wishing you the best
    ╠╣ONDO

    You're a nice guy Hondo.
    I've done my own therapy just by stretching with fingers. When I started this was about four months after my floor of mouth surgery and graft. on the second day of stretching I tore the edge of the graft. That was pretty wierd. It got me another 5 mm of opening, which was very helpful.
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #11
    Options
    longtermsurvivor said:

    You're a nice guy Hondo.
    I've done my own therapy just by stretching with fingers. When I started this was about four months after my floor of mouth surgery and graft. on the second day of stretching I tore the edge of the graft. That was pretty wierd. It got me another 5 mm of opening, which was very helpful.

    Hi Longterm

    Sometimes I wish I could tare something and get a little more opening but I am too afraid of the extra pain that will also come with it. I been hoping that some how the doctors could do surgery and cut some of the muscles but they are afraid that because I had Rad twice nothing will heal correctly.

    Take care
    ╠╣ONDO
  • keep_the_faith
    keep_the_faith Member Posts: 49
    #12
    Options
    soccerfreaks said:

    therapy
    You might consider physical therapy, where a professional can guide you through exercises that help to open the mouth, to move it side to side, and to have the jaw regain forward motion. This worked for me along with the therabyte, and the massages were great.

    My insurance covered this therapy, but I would agree that it is difficult to find therapists who are up on this particular stuff, so perhaps your ENT Man can point you in the right direction.

    With respect to the cavity, it is unacceptable to live with a cavity, clearly. When my dentist acknowledged he could not get to a particular molar (for the same reason as yours) he sent me to an oral surgeon, who could knock me out and do whatever evil things he needed to do in order to get to the tooth. It worked, but was expensive and my dental insurance would not cover it. It has been suggested that I should have gone through my medical instead, and next time I will give that a try, if a next time is needed.

    Good luck.

    Take care,

    Joe

    Thanks, Joe
    Thanks for the advise. I now see a physical therapist for my shoulder who is excellent. I'll ask him about exercises for the mouth. My oncologist told me it was going to cost $30,000 for the prothesis (partial) to be made for my mouth. I just hope my medical insurance covers all of this.

    Thanks again,

    Anne
  • keep_the_faith
    keep_the_faith Member Posts: 49
    #13
    Options
    Hondo said:

    Hi Anne

    What Joe said is not a bad idea to consider getting so help. When I did the therapy to help with my Jaw it did not do any good because as I was too far out of treatment by that time. The equipment to help open the Jaw is quite expensive the Therabite is a little over $540.00 bucks and the Dyansplint is about $2,700.00 bucks. I have my old Therabite system that I don’t use anymore and it really needs a good home. So if you like PM me your address and I will send it to you free of charge and I will even pay for the shipping. I would just like to see it go to someone who really needs it, It also has a set of new pads with it.

    Here are some links so you can see what they look like
    http://www.craniorehab.com/therabite-jaw-motion-rehab-system.html
    http://www.shulman-associates.com/trismus_system.htm

    Wishing you the best
    ╠╣ONDO

    God Bless You
    Hi Hondo,

    I would certainly love to try the Therabite. My doctors never told me about this system.
    You're the best. Here's my address:

    Anne Cook
    10 Creekwood
    Irvine, CA 92604

    God Bless You over and over
  • keep_the_faith
    keep_the_faith Member Posts: 49
    #14
    Options
    soccerfreaks said:

    Good for you!
    I am impressed. I hope you two can work this out.

    Take care,

    Joe

    Sweet
    Hondo is the BEST!
  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    #15
    Options
    keep_the_faith said:

    God Bless You
    Hi Hondo,

    I would certainly love to try the Therabite. My doctors never told me about this system.
    You're the best. Here's my address:

    Anne Cook
    10 Creekwood
    Irvine, CA 92604

    God Bless You over and over

    caution
    Anne, I would advise that you be cautious in handing over your address or other personal information, either here or elsewhere. Despite the noble cause this site espouses, despite the noble offers and promises of its members, sometimes we run into a bad one. That is not to indict Hondo, of course, but to suggest that in general, if you are going to pass such information along to someone you have come to trust, you should probably do it in a private email (CSN email, for example) if at all, so that others do not have access to it.

    Best wishes with recovery.

    Take care,

    Joe
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #16
    Options
    Hi Anne

    I have the Therabite in a box and my wife will mail it off on Monday. All the instructions and a disk are in the box suggest watching the video before you do anything. Also you might just want to let your doctor know that you are going to start treatment with the Therabite system in case he has any added instructions for you.

    Also Joe is correct always send any personal information by Private Massage here on CSN rather than on the thread its self. I have your address so if you can delete it if possible.

    I hope it works as well for you as it has worked for me.

    Wishing you the very best in a wider mouth
    Hondo
  • keep_the_faith
    keep_the_faith Member Posts: 49
    #17
    Options
    soccerfreaks said:

    caution
    Anne, I would advise that you be cautious in handing over your address or other personal information, either here or elsewhere. Despite the noble cause this site espouses, despite the noble offers and promises of its members, sometimes we run into a bad one. That is not to indict Hondo, of course, but to suggest that in general, if you are going to pass such information along to someone you have come to trust, you should probably do it in a private email (CSN email, for example) if at all, so that others do not have access to it.

    Best wishes with recovery.

    Take care,

    Joe

    Caution, You're Right
    I should have known better.
  • keep_the_faith
    keep_the_faith Member Posts: 49
    #18
    Options
    Hondo said:

    Hi Anne

    I have the Therabite in a box and my wife will mail it off on Monday. All the instructions and a disk are in the box suggest watching the video before you do anything. Also you might just want to let your doctor know that you are going to start treatment with the Therabite system in case he has any added instructions for you.

    Also Joe is correct always send any personal information by Private Massage here on CSN rather than on the thread its self. I have your address so if you can delete it if possible.

    I hope it works as well for you as it has worked for me.

    Wishing you the very best in a wider mouth
    Hondo

    Hi Hondo
    I talked to my physical therapist today about the Therabite. He is also TMJ certified and told me he can show me how to use it so I won't hurt myself. I'm going to give my PT a copy of the bone scan report too.

    Because I'm not very computer savvy, I cannot seem to delete my address. I will try to figure out how to send a Private Message also.

    Thanks again for all your help. It is very much appreciated.

    Anne
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #19
    Options
    longtermsurvivor said:

    Hey Joe
    Is there anything preventing you just starting over and submitting all this to medical? If not, go ahead and refile. I've had this come up before, and the medical paid because, well, it is medical when our mouths fall apart after radiation therapy. Medical paid well on my hyperbarics too. Thank god for that. I saw the original bill. It was over $33k.

    My insurance that I had,
    My insurance that I had, refused to cover my teeth. Then, the uncompensated care program, that I was on at my hospital, paid 100% of my necessary medical treatment, but my teeth were not considered necessary. I had a complete restoration on my teeth, and I had to pay out of my own pocket. Like $5,000. Maybe more. I've lost track. :(

    I can only get 5-6 sticks in my mouth, and they did all my teeth.
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #20
    Options
    keep_the_faith said:

    Hi Hondo
    I talked to my physical therapist today about the Therabite. He is also TMJ certified and told me he can show me how to use it so I won't hurt myself. I'm going to give my PT a copy of the bone scan report too.

    Because I'm not very computer savvy, I cannot seem to delete my address. I will try to figure out how to send a Private Message also.

    Thanks again for all your help. It is very much appreciated.

    Anne

    Anne
    If my wife gets it mailed on Monday you should get it by Thursday or Friday so that will give you time to see your therapist and get started with your Jaw treatment.

    Wishing you well and hoping for a big mouth
    Hondo
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #21
    Options
    sweetblood22 said:

    My insurance that I had,
    My insurance that I had, refused to cover my teeth. Then, the uncompensated care program, that I was on at my hospital, paid 100% of my necessary medical treatment, but my teeth were not considered necessary. I had a complete restoration on my teeth, and I had to pay out of my own pocket. Like $5,000. Maybe more. I've lost track. :(

    I can only get 5-6 sticks in my mouth, and they did all my teeth.

    Sweet
    Only 5 or 6 sticks so I am not the only little mouth person here after all. When I asked the dentist about how much will all this cost me, he said I don’t have a clue but just the two root canals alone with be over $2,000.00 bucks Cash.

    Well oh was all I could say
    Hondo

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