CT Scan & Dental

osmotar
osmotar Member Posts: 1,006
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

My latest CT scan while all clean , made a reference for the 3rd time that the amalgam I have around any crown work distorts the beam or makes it bounce ,since I first saw this it always bothered me that the scan could miss something in all my oral nooks and crannies, so when I saw my dentist today we discussed the process of replacing with all porcelain crowns , sounds paranoid but will give me piece of mind , since most are well over 5 yrs old the billing tech feels my dental insurance will cover most or at least 80% ... Has anyone else experienced this issue?

Blessings and good MoJo

linda 

Comments

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    #2
    teeth

    Linda,

    No, but I wondered about it.  I am  sporting 3 crowns (full metal). 

    My dentist says my teeth are ok, but I hear scary things around the H&N fire.

    Matt

  • osmotar
    osmotar Member Posts: 1,006
    #3
    CivilMatt said:

    teeth

    Linda,

    No, but I wondered about it.  I am  sporting 3 crowns (full metal). 

    My dentist says my teeth are ok, but I hear scary things around the H&N fire.

    Matt

    Teeth Ok

    Matt 

    teeth , gums , everything ok , just being carefull...my dentist is very proactive in oral screening at each 6 month check up, she keeps copies of all my CT scans on file 

  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #4
    osmotar said:

    Teeth Ok

    Matt 

    teeth , gums , everything ok , just being carefull...my dentist is very proactive in oral screening at each 6 month check up, she keeps copies of all my CT scans on file 

    Two issues to consider

    Issue number one is the Almalgam itself. It's the red headed step child of the dental industry. They don't like to talk about it. In retrospect it was a poor choice to put in peoples mouths, general consensus is that it's toxic. That said, as long as it is not leaking and contained it is generally safe.  From what I have read people with Almalgam already in their mouths that is not compromised are best off leaving it alone. The gains don't outweigh the risks of changing them out. If you can afford it then just don't get any more Almalgam fillings in the future.

    Issue number two is that you will gain little advantage from changing them out. The majority of recurrences are found by ourselves or the ENT on examination and scope. The mouth is already covered and looked at very closely. There is already redundancy there. You need the CT scans for the stuff we cannot see.

     

    If it gives you piece of mind then it's always worth it indivdually. In the end it is a personal risk tolerance decision.     

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #5
    Hi Linda

     

     

     

    Back in the old day I had most of my teeth repaired with metal fillings so my mouth is just about full of amalgam. Now that I can’t chew or eat the best I can do is to keep them as clean as I can with a tooth brush. So far I had no problems with scans due to the metal in my teeth or with it leaking, the real problem is trying to find a dentist here in Lafayette who knows how to help people with H&N cancer.

     

    All the best to you

     

    Tim

     

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