Titanic plate used in jaw replacement is broken

Debi16043
Debi16043 Member Posts: 53
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Md Anderson dentist x-rayed my jaw last month because my jaw isn't lining up correctly and she discovered my plate has been broken in two places.  Anyone else have this happen?  She seemed surprised surgery was just 3 years ago.

 

debra

Comments

  • Bunnymom
    Bunnymom Member Posts: 212 Member
    #2
    Debra

    What are they recommending?

    Prsyers your way. 

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #3
    Hi Debra

    I just hope you got better dentist at MDA Houston then I had, after two years at 10 trips they did nothing but drain my insurance. I finally found a orthopedic dentist who was willing to try and do something but he was not in network with my insurance. Well I had to pay out of pocket but it was worth it as he did in 6 weeks what MDA could not do in 2 years. I am not trying to bad mouth MDA I love them and they have some of the best Cancer doctors in the world, my team at MDA was a life savior to me. There dentist on the other hand just did not live up to my exportation.

    Hondo

  • Debi16043
    Debi16043 Member Posts: 53
    #4
    Hondo said:

    Hi Debra

    I just hope you got better dentist at MDA Houston then I had, after two years at 10 trips they did nothing but drain my insurance. I finally found a orthopedic dentist who was willing to try and do something but he was not in network with my insurance. Well I had to pay out of pocket but it was worth it as he did in 6 weeks what MDA could not do in 2 years. I am not trying to bad mouth MDA I love them and they have some of the best Cancer doctors in the world, my team at MDA was a life savior to me. There dentist on the other hand just did not live up to my exportation.

    Hondo

    Md Anderson dentist

    Well hondo the verdict is still out on their dentist.  Lol.  They have done a great job for me so far.  They recommended to remove all of my teeth instead of just the ones where new jaw goes and I'm happy about that because I no longer have the worry with dental work since I can not open my mouth wide anymore.

  • Debi16043
    Debi16043 Member Posts: 53
    #5
    Bunnymom said:

    Debra

    What are they recommending?

    Prsyers your way. 

    Broken plate

    Not sure yet of treatment.  They found it last month and I go June 19 back to surgeons.  

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #6
    debi, wow, so sorry to hear

    debi, wow, so sorry to hear that.  praying the get it fixed for you without too much pain.  it doesn't seem to stop for you.  saying prayers.

    dj

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #7
    debbiejeanne said:

    debi, wow, so sorry to hear

    debi, wow, so sorry to hear that.  praying the get it fixed for you without too much pain.  it doesn't seem to stop for you.  saying prayers.

    dj

    Debi

    I also had jaw reconstruction using my fibula and titanium in 2012...had no idea the titanium could break. Did they say what caused it? Mine has caused me 24/7 discomfort (not pain) for the last 2 1/2 years, do you feel same?

    Candi

  • Debi16043
    Debi16043 Member Posts: 53
    #8
    hwt said:

    Debi

    I also had jaw reconstruction using my fibula and titanium in 2012...had no idea the titanium could break. Did they say what caused it? Mine has caused me 24/7 discomfort (not pain) for the last 2 1/2 years, do you feel same?

    Candi

    Hi candi.  My dentist at md

    Hi candi.  My dentist at md Anderson seemed shocked.  I see the surgeon June 19 so will post what I find out here.

     

    my surgery was june 2011.  I haven't had any trouble with my plate but all my teeth were pulled and I have implants and the dentures give me he'll.  nothing you can't live with.  It seems that my youngest is always rubbing that plastic and it stays sore.  I take mine out at bedtime every night to get relief.  Feels god as new in morning till I wear them few hours. 

     

    Do you have dentures?  Any trouble with them

  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    #9
    Debi16043 said:

    Hi candi.  My dentist at md

    Hi candi.  My dentist at md Anderson seemed shocked.  I see the surgeon June 19 so will post what I find out here.

     

    my surgery was june 2011.  I haven't had any trouble with my plate but all my teeth were pulled and I have implants and the dentures give me he'll.  nothing you can't live with.  It seems that my youngest is always rubbing that plastic and it stays sore.  I take mine out at bedtime every night to get relief.  Feels god as new in morning till I wear them few hours. 

     

    Do you have dentures?  Any trouble with them

    titanic plate?

    Do you mean titanium?  If so, I am amazed that it is broken, also.  Extremely strong material.  Anything can have a crack in it, I suppose, in the molding process that weakens the structural integrity. 

    Debi, I'm sorry you are going through this.

    Jim had all teeth pulled prior to radiation, the oncologist had him wait until 1.5 years post treatment so everything was pretty much settled and we bought very excellent dentures.  He's had no problem.

    Because the dentures were necessary as a result of the cancer treatment, our insurance company, Delta Dental, paid half the cost of the dentures.

    We were very fortunate.

    Hope things improve for you.

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #10
    Noellesmom said:

    titanic plate?

    Do you mean titanium?  If so, I am amazed that it is broken, also.  Extremely strong material.  Anything can have a crack in it, I suppose, in the molding process that weakens the structural integrity. 

    Debi, I'm sorry you are going through this.

    Jim had all teeth pulled prior to radiation, the oncologist had him wait until 1.5 years post treatment so everything was pretty much settled and we bought very excellent dentures.  He's had no problem.

    Because the dentures were necessary as a result of the cancer treatment, our insurance company, Delta Dental, paid half the cost of the dentures.

    We were very fortunate.

    Hope things improve for you.

    titanium

    In xrays, mine looks more like a chain link than a plate. Is that what you have? I have a temporary denture. I did 30 HBOT dives a year ago in anticipation of implants but had a recurrence that has taken priority. I have difficulty eating with the temporary. Also, have some trismus. There has been debate about putting implants in side with fibula. Do you have any in that bone? Did insurance pay toward your implants/denture?

  • traceyd1
    traceyd1 Member Posts: 79 Member
    #11
    hwt said:

    titanium

    In xrays, mine looks more like a chain link than a plate. Is that what you have? I have a temporary denture. I did 30 HBOT dives a year ago in anticipation of implants but had a recurrence that has taken priority. I have difficulty eating with the temporary. Also, have some trismus. There has been debate about putting implants in side with fibula. Do you have any in that bone? Did insurance pay toward your implants/denture?

    My husband had a fibular free

    My husband had a fibular free flap surgery to replace his mandible in Feb. 2012.  He has a titanium plate and had dental implant posts put in in December 2013.  The doctor built the bone up a bit with some cells from his hip bone.  He has healed beautifully and will get his teeth in the next couple of months.

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #12
    traceyd1 said:

    My husband had a fibular free

    My husband had a fibular free flap surgery to replace his mandible in Feb. 2012.  He has a titanium plate and had dental implant posts put in in December 2013.  The doctor built the bone up a bit with some cells from his hip bone.  He has healed beautifully and will get his teeth in the next couple of months.

    Tracey

    That is fantastic to hear! If you don't mind, who (and where) did the dental work? Did your husband have any trismus?

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