Visiting the dentist

Ginkgo

How much information about cancer treatment do you have to give your dentist/hygienist?  I suppose I have to tell them I had chemo because of the mouth sores.  But more details??  I hope not!  what have your experiences been going to the dentist or other non-cancer medical folks  like eye doctors, physical therapists (not for pelvic therapy), dermatologists, GPs, Urgent Care, etc., etc.  Actually, except for the dentist, my entire health care system is on electronic charting, so all will see, first thing, when they check my record:  ANAL CANCER.  So, I hope I don't get sick in any other part of my body, because those visits aren't gonna happen!

 

eihtak

Ginkgo...

Hi...

I am so lucky because even my dental clinic is a branch of my healthcare system so I and my history are ALL in their electronic file. When I first went to the dentist after my initial treatment I was having some serious issues partly as a result of the toll chemo had taken on my teeth. I remember when talking about it (and in a few other situations) saying "lower colon cancer" as technically that sort of describes the location, lol. That was 7 years ago and now, if needed, I am more than comfortable saying anal cancer. 

I feel it is important to say it with ease in order to erase the stigma that may (or may not) be associated with this cancer. Feel free to steal my "lower colon" explanation for as long as you need. I bet it won't be long and you'll see that most people react to the word "cancer" more than the adjective before it!

Dental care is very important during this time, and most dentists these days also check for oral cancer signs during their exam. Don't worry, they won't usually have time to ask about many details anyway. Good luck...and keep moving forward!

katheryn

Mollymaude

Ginkgo

I am still not comfortable saying anal cancer. I usually say GI or colon which is close enough for noN medical people.As far as medical people go I wouldn't worry too much about your chart having "anal cancer" all over it. Number one I didn't find medical staff to act like there was a stigma and number two not as many people pay close attention to all the diagnosis' as you think. All the dentist needs to know is that you had chemo. Mine never asked me a thing about it. As a side note I was told not to floss during treatment - I suppose for fear you might get bacteria in your bloodstream. I couldn't stand not flossing so I went ahead and did it anyway. 

ulwinridge

It’s understandable to feel hesitant about sharing the full details of cancer treatment with your dentist. Most dental professionals primarily need to know that chemotherapy was part of your history, especially if you experienced mouth sores, as this can affect sensitivity, healing, and oral care routines.

Visiting a local clinic such as Parramatta Green Dental can make this easier, as their staff are used to discussing medical histories sensitively and can adjust treatment accordingly. You can even visit here:google.com/maps/place/?cid=4777860076444837643 to see the clinic’s location and get an idea of their approach. Many patients find that dentists are focused on how treatment impacts oral health rather than the specifics of the cancer itself, so sharing the necessary information is usually enough.

In practical terms, mentioning that you had chemo and experienced mouth or gum sensitivity is sufficient. During follow-ups, the team may monitor for oral complications or signs of oral cancer, which is standard practice. Keeping the conversation simple helps reduce anxiety while ensuring safe, effective dental care.

benjaminbramley

I completely understand the hesitation about how much detail to share, especially when your whole medical history gets boiled down to a label like that in electronic records.

From a practical dental point of view, most dentists and hygienists really don’t need the full cancer story. What is important for them to know is the treatment side of it, so things like having had chemo and whether you’ve had radiation, especially if it involved the head/neck area, plus any ongoing meds or immune effects. That’s mainly so they can manage things like infection risk, dry mouth, gum healing, and bleeding risk safely.

In my own experience, I’ve found it helps to keep it simple and clinical. Something like “I had chemotherapy, and I had some oral side effects at the time” is usually more than enough. Most dental teams don’t probe further unless it directly affects treatment on the day.

A good example of how it’s handled well in practice is when I visited Burwood Diamond Dental(google.com/maps/place/?cid=13602516038916111280), they just noted the chemo history, asked a couple of targeted questions about current symptoms, and then focused entirely on making the appointment comfortable and safe, no unnecessary digging into the diagnosis itself.

Also worth remembering that even if your broader medical record shows a specific diagnosis, dental staff tend to focus on relevance rather than reading every detail. They’re generally more concerned with “is there anything we need to adjust today?” rather than the full background.