Teeth

Kent Cass
Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
I went to the Dentist today for a cleaning, and mentioned that I'd noticed part of a problem tooth appeared to be gone. Yep- another Crown at $957 is in the works! And they're talking about the need for 3 more Crowns! Yikes! I did some figuring awhile back, and by my count this next Crown is gonna put me up to the $8-9K area, out of pocket since diagnosoed, and that hurts.

IT TRULY DOES HAVE ME WONDERING IF I SHOULD GET MY TEETH PULLED, and need some help with suggestions. I already have 6 Crowns and a Bridge, and below the Crowns are stubs the Crowns fit over. Crown is supposed to happen on 11/7, so I got a little time.

Should I consult with an Oral Surgeon? .

Think another new issue came out with the cleaning, and sensitivity under a different Crown when it was being scraped. Being 3 1/2-years out, any known complications still in play with an Op getting them all yanked? NPC, loss of gum tissue is still evident.

Of note, this was the turf Delnative woulda been able to help with in a major way, God rest his Soul. Gone, but not forgotten...Any suggestions for me?

kcass
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Comments

  • Greend
    Greend Member Posts: 678
    Teeth
    Doc told me "no way" do I want to pull teeth unless I want to risk losing my jaw following rads. I know it is frustrating and expensive.

    Good luck.

    Denny
  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    Wouldn't hurt to check
    Kent,
    I would check with an oral surgeon that is knowlegable. Weigh your options and costs. Tooth extraction isn't cheap (depending on how many) and dentures ran me around 3000 out of pocket. Good luck, and remember to ask about HBO if needed for healing if this is still an issue. Katie
  • pascotty
    pascotty Member Posts: 174 Member
    Hey kcass
    I've just had 6 front top teeth had porcelains put over them cause my teeth have gone dark gappy and they all ache since treatment. The out of pocket so far for teeth has been $7500 and not happy. Out of pocket for tx was $12000. Cancer is not only devastating but expensive :(.
  • pascotty
    pascotty Member Posts: 174 Member
    Hey kcass
    I've just had 6 front top teeth had porcelains put over them cause my teeth have gone dark gappy and they all ache since treatment. The out of pocket so far for teeth has been $7500 and not happy. Out of pocket for tx was $12000. Cancer is not only devastating but expensive :(.
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    Feedback I was given...
    Kent

    My dentist is pretty insistent that its always better to keep what you have in the way of teeth. I figure the effects of radiation on the jawbone and the impaired circulation don't much improve over time. You may be getting yourself into an even bigger and more expensive problem by trying to do multiple extractions.

    Here's hoping for a good resolution to this problem. At this point, I believe I have more crowns than intact teeth.

    Deb
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    Greend said:

    Teeth
    Doc told me "no way" do I want to pull teeth unless I want to risk losing my jaw following rads. I know it is frustrating and expensive.

    Good luck.

    Denny

    ditto
    my .....Doc told me "no way" do I want to pull teeth unless I want to risk losing my jaw following rads. I know it is frustrating and expensive.

    this was the oral surgeon, the meeting with dentist prior to this was same but not in exact words

    i know for me, when i added the waterpic two years ago with as hot of water than i can handle has made a night and day difference. i did this it was not suggested by anyone nor by dentist or hygienist. the last two both have said they have seen a huge positive effect.


    i to waterpic, floss, brush with sonicare tooth brush with bioteen gel toothpaste and fluoride treatments 3 times a day,

    waterpic also has soothed the gums beyond discription

    out of pocket i have 60-70,000 $ in oral care
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    pascotty said:

    Hey kcass
    I've just had 6 front top teeth had porcelains put over them cause my teeth have gone dark gappy and they all ache since treatment. The out of pocket so far for teeth has been $7500 and not happy. Out of pocket for tx was $12000. Cancer is not only devastating but expensive :(.

    may i add
    "priceless"



    :-)


    john
  • jtl
    jtl Member Posts: 456
    Kent
    One of these days I plan to get some crowns replaced and a bridge. When I do I am going to go either to Mexico or Costa Rica, the later being more desirable but also more expensive. When I last checked crowns were $350 in Costa Rica and $175 in Mexico. For the Mexico clinic you stay in El Paso and they send a car to pick you up and take you across the border. They have a real assembly line going. I was told they can easily do 8-10 crowns in one day, have the crown ready the next day for a fitting and the third day is to do the finishing touches and permanently install them. I know people who have been to both places and they were completely satisfied with the end results.
    John
  • corleone
    corleone Member Posts: 312 Member
    osteoradionecrosis
    You should check first with a knowledgeable oral surgeon, because the risk of osteoradionecrosis (of the mandible) after radiation treatment, seems to be increased for the rest of our lives.
  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    corleone said:

    osteoradionecrosis
    You should check first with a knowledgeable oral surgeon, because the risk of osteoradionecrosis (of the mandible) after radiation treatment, seems to be increased for the rest of our lives.

    pulling teeth
    I have met with a reconstructive dental surgeon at the hospital and I think their decision is to pull the remaining teeth on the bottom and do total implants, however, none of this can be done until I spend a month doing daily tx in the hyperbaric pressure chamber. That can't begin until 6 mos. from my last rad/chemo tx. I'm looking at Mid-Nov to get started. Because the teeth were extracted to reconstruct my jaw (cancer of the mandible) I am praying my health insurance is going to pick up the bill...to-date, they have paid the dental surgeon so I am optimistic. I think the purpose of the HBOT is to get a good blood flow and make certain dental procedures are successful. Would hate to spend so much and have something fail. I was always a believer in trying to keep what God gave me. I guess we need to rely on the professionals at this stage.
  • George_Baltimore
    George_Baltimore Member Posts: 303
    hwt said:

    pulling teeth
    I have met with a reconstructive dental surgeon at the hospital and I think their decision is to pull the remaining teeth on the bottom and do total implants, however, none of this can be done until I spend a month doing daily tx in the hyperbaric pressure chamber. That can't begin until 6 mos. from my last rad/chemo tx. I'm looking at Mid-Nov to get started. Because the teeth were extracted to reconstruct my jaw (cancer of the mandible) I am praying my health insurance is going to pick up the bill...to-date, they have paid the dental surgeon so I am optimistic. I think the purpose of the HBOT is to get a good blood flow and make certain dental procedures are successful. Would hate to spend so much and have something fail. I was always a believer in trying to keep what God gave me. I guess we need to rely on the professionals at this stage.

    Anything can happen
    When I was diagnosed in 2004 with BOT, I had 16 of my own teeth in my mouth. I was advised by both oral surgeon and cancer docs to have them pulled since they were not in great shape. The professionals were afraid I would end up with osteonecrosis from the radiation. I had them pulled and still ended up with osteonecrosis and now, I only have half a jawbone. Anything can happen. My opinion: that's an awful lot of money to spend when you might end up losing them a year or two or three from now. Good luck with whatever you decide!
  • Mikemetz
    Mikemetz Member Posts: 465 Member
    hwt said:

    pulling teeth
    I have met with a reconstructive dental surgeon at the hospital and I think their decision is to pull the remaining teeth on the bottom and do total implants, however, none of this can be done until I spend a month doing daily tx in the hyperbaric pressure chamber. That can't begin until 6 mos. from my last rad/chemo tx. I'm looking at Mid-Nov to get started. Because the teeth were extracted to reconstruct my jaw (cancer of the mandible) I am praying my health insurance is going to pick up the bill...to-date, they have paid the dental surgeon so I am optimistic. I think the purpose of the HBOT is to get a good blood flow and make certain dental procedures are successful. Would hate to spend so much and have something fail. I was always a believer in trying to keep what God gave me. I guess we need to rely on the professionals at this stage.

    The value of HBO
    I've had a total of 50 HBO treatments and can honestly say that I've felt nothing that justifies my time and my insurance company's billings for them. I was tremendously fatigued by them and in the end thought they were useless.

    Mike
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    Mikemetz said:

    The value of HBO
    I've had a total of 50 HBO treatments and can honestly say that I've felt nothing that justifies my time and my insurance company's billings for them. I was tremendously fatigued by them and in the end thought they were useless.

    Mike

    Thank You
    Had my ENT appointment yesterday (CT was clean), and got into a discussion with him on the rads and mouth. He advised to get the Crown(s) and keep the teeth as long as possible- due to the effects of the rads and my age in regards to the jaws and gums. Literally said I will get more of a Kingdom in my mouth with all the Crowns! Just about the best ENT visit I've had with him, all things considered. Did not, but shoulda, pointed out to him that he agrees with a bunch of experts on this matter- YOU, who have posted on this thread. Thanks, all.

    kcass
  • Greg53
    Greg53 Member Posts: 849
    Kent Cass said:

    Thank You
    Had my ENT appointment yesterday (CT was clean), and got into a discussion with him on the rads and mouth. He advised to get the Crown(s) and keep the teeth as long as possible- due to the effects of the rads and my age in regards to the jaws and gums. Literally said I will get more of a Kingdom in my mouth with all the Crowns! Just about the best ENT visit I've had with him, all things considered. Did not, but shoulda, pointed out to him that he agrees with a bunch of experts on this matter- YOU, who have posted on this thread. Thanks, all.

    kcass

    cubs/teeth
    Kent

    Hey I've always heard watching the Cubbies is the same as getting your teeth pulled - kidding ya Bro' (ah, maybe not)

    Greg
  • Crazymom
    Crazymom Member Posts: 339 Member
    Teeth
    Very expensive. I had crowns on 5 teeth after the rads. Now he wants to replace bridge I had put in 30 years ago. The crowns were $7,000 and now the bridge will be another $7,000. I am waiting until Jan 1 for the bridge work as my insurance will pay $2,000. There really is no choice. I am going to try the water pick. I already have the flouride tray and supposedly I should be fine after the bridge is fixed. Ann
  • backachedp
    backachedp Member Posts: 132
    Crazymom said:

    Teeth
    Very expensive. I had crowns on 5 teeth after the rads. Now he wants to replace bridge I had put in 30 years ago. The crowns were $7,000 and now the bridge will be another $7,000. I am waiting until Jan 1 for the bridge work as my insurance will pay $2,000. There really is no choice. I am going to try the water pick. I already have the flouride tray and supposedly I should be fine after the bridge is fixed. Ann

    Teeth
    Unfortunatly my Husband had alot of work done on his Teeth and ended up with NONE....:( All that money and time and healing for nothing he was told 2 months for all to heal then Dentures we have had th Dr's send letters to the Insurance Company saying this is all Medical related aand should be covered by Medical not Dental....so he has had no teeth the last six were taken out 3 weeks ago. He went in for CT Scan last Friday a week ago and comes home and tells me he had/has some Lung Infection....next day a Pulminary Dr called and he has several Appt's comming up....he always had a spot that lit up on his Lung but they said it was Mississippi Spore...I am in the dark as to what is going on he has always been very quiet about the whole ordeal....praying it is not Lung Cancer...I wish he would just tell me what is going on instead of bit's and pieces each day and the story different a bit each day....I guess I am venting and sorry for that the whole thing just....well I feel left in the dark. He has had clean Scans since May 23 2010. I did go to the ENT with him and he said 90% chance it won't come back after 2 years. But now the worry about this Pulinary Dr issue...maay everyone have a great weekend and I will try and put this out of my mind until I know the fact's. It is hard to do that though and thank you to everyone here who I could always turn to aand knew something before it would happen. Hopefully everything will be ok for all...:)
  • titalie
    titalie Member Posts: 3
    jtl said:

    Kent
    One of these days I plan to get some crowns replaced and a bridge. When I do I am going to go either to Mexico or Costa Rica, the later being more desirable but also more expensive. When I last checked crowns were $350 in Costa Rica and $175 in Mexico. For the Mexico clinic you stay in El Paso and they send a car to pick you up and take you across the border. They have a real assembly line going. I was told they can easily do 8-10 crowns in one day, have the crown ready the next day for a fitting and the third day is to do the finishing touches and permanently install them. I know people who have been to both places and they were completely satisfied with the end results.
    John

    OSTEONECROSIS
    I'm confused on this thread? If you have had cancer and used radiation of the mouth for treatment you have damaged much of the jawbone and teeth and gums. What this means is that if you have any teeth extraction or implants you are risking getting osteonecrosis which is a horrible condition (google it) and has no guaranteed cure and can result in losing your lower jawbone and needing a transplant. Bottom line DO NOT EXTRACT TEETH, HAVE GUM OR BONE SURGERY OR GET AN IMPLANT UNLESS YOU DISCUSS WITH DENTAL ONCOLOGIST, A RADIOLOGIST, MAXILLOFACIAL SURGEON,PERIODONTIST AND DENTIST! THIS IS VERY SERIOUS!!!!! And for God sakes if you decide to do any of this work don't go overseas to save a buck because it may cost you your life not to mention pain and suffering.
  • aprilsun
    aprilsun Member Posts: 3
    teeth protection
    Hi to everyone. I'm new here and eager for all info you can give as well as the opportunity to share and vent. My 26 year old son (physically disabled) was diagnosed with stage IVb SCC (base of tongue, floor of mouth and bilateral lymph nodes). He's at number 28 of 35 rads and has had 4 cisplatin chemos. The situation has improved immensely and he's coping remarkably well with the rad side effects (much better than anyone would have believed)

    They've told me to keep an eye on his teeth and I've been looking for some fluoride rinses or similar but we live in Italy and I can't find anything here that can be bought over the counter.

    Coulòd anyone give me a brand name or tell me if/where I can buy some online??
  • SASH
    SASH Member Posts: 421 Member
    aprilsun said:

    teeth protection
    Hi to everyone. I'm new here and eager for all info you can give as well as the opportunity to share and vent. My 26 year old son (physically disabled) was diagnosed with stage IVb SCC (base of tongue, floor of mouth and bilateral lymph nodes). He's at number 28 of 35 rads and has had 4 cisplatin chemos. The situation has improved immensely and he's coping remarkably well with the rad side effects (much better than anyone would have believed)

    They've told me to keep an eye on his teeth and I've been looking for some fluoride rinses or similar but we live in Italy and I can't find anything here that can be bought over the counter.

    Coulòd anyone give me a brand name or tell me if/where I can buy some online??

    Fluoride
    Here in the States there are several mouth rinses over the counter that contain fluoride. One is ACT, there are several versions of this most are Alcohol free and there is even one version for dry mouth. Another one here is Crest Pro Health with Fluoride. I don't like this one as much as it tends to have a staining agent in the formulation. So while it helps protect with the fluoride, it can stain the teeth including between them.

    Before using any over the counter product, check with doctors to make sure it isn't going to interfere in treatment or even after care.
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    SASH said:

    Fluoride
    Here in the States there are several mouth rinses over the counter that contain fluoride. One is ACT, there are several versions of this most are Alcohol free and there is even one version for dry mouth. Another one here is Crest Pro Health with Fluoride. I don't like this one as much as it tends to have a staining agent in the formulation. So while it helps protect with the fluoride, it can stain the teeth including between them.

    Before using any over the counter product, check with doctors to make sure it isn't going to interfere in treatment or even after care.

    Got the Crown, and...
    Have four more teeth on the agenda to start dealing with on 12/12- rebuild the tops on all four of them. Cha-ching, cha-ching= all four of these teeth have needed work for some time, but only now has Christmas come into the sights of my Dentist, and the need for...cha-ching. Mouth will be better for it, though, so I am not complaining.

    kcass