Pre-treatment Tooth Extractions

essexave
essexave Member Posts: 5
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hello,

I am new to this board. I am awaiting final diagnosis but the docs think I likely have SCC with lymph node involvement that originated either in the back of the throat or nose somewhere.

I have infections and cavities in my upper teeth and the docs said I will have to have all of my upper teeth removed and some bottom teeth before I start treatment. I am worried about this and really dreading it. Part of my concern is that adjusting to this and then undergoing treatment will make it even more difficult to eat and maintain nutrition.

I see some postings about post-treatment extractions. Could anyone share any experiences with pre-treatment extractions or give me an idea of what I should expect?

Thanks.

Comments

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #2
    Extractions
    I do know there was a member on here, Illoozions, that had to have all of his teeth pulled prior to starting treatment. It was rough, and I do believe that he was put on the PEG to help get enough nutrition in...

    Definitely not the best way to start treatment, but if your teeth are in bad shape, it probably is best. Once you have had radiation you have greater chances for infections if you have to have teeth pulled.

    But if they don't plan on radiation, I'd ask why they want the teeth pulled.

    Welcome to the forum, sorry you're here, but there's an awesome crowd of people and tons of experiences and information.

    Best,
    John
  • Greend
    Greend Member Posts: 678
    #3
    Skiffin16 said:

    Extractions
    I do know there was a member on here, Illoozions, that had to have all of his teeth pulled prior to starting treatment. It was rough, and I do believe that he was put on the PEG to help get enough nutrition in...

    Definitely not the best way to start treatment, but if your teeth are in bad shape, it probably is best. Once you have had radiation you have greater chances for infections if you have to have teeth pulled.

    But if they don't plan on radiation, I'd ask why they want the teeth pulled.

    Welcome to the forum, sorry you're here, but there's an awesome crowd of people and tons of experiences and information.

    Best,
    John

    Do it
    The possible problems later are much worse and hard on you than pulling them now.
    Agree it is a bad way to start but at least you are on the path.

    Good luck

    Denny
  • Dav1965
    Dav1965 Member Posts: 132
    #4
    I did too
    I had 4 teath pulled. Mine had no cavities but had been filled and the fillings were deep. The teeth being pulled were the part that upset me the most. It bothered me worse than being told i had cancer.
  • essexave
    essexave Member Posts: 5
    #5
    Greend said:

    Do it
    The possible problems later are much worse and hard on you than pulling them now.
    Agree it is a bad way to start but at least you are on the path.

    Good luck

    Denny

    teeth
    thanks for the reply Denny. I go for my petscan next Monday to determine my treatment plan.
    I was going to get implants, but now I'll work with my false teeth. Hope they work for me.
  • essexave
    essexave Member Posts: 5
    #6
    Skiffin16 said:

    Extractions
    I do know there was a member on here, Illoozions, that had to have all of his teeth pulled prior to starting treatment. It was rough, and I do believe that he was put on the PEG to help get enough nutrition in...

    Definitely not the best way to start treatment, but if your teeth are in bad shape, it probably is best. Once you have had radiation you have greater chances for infections if you have to have teeth pulled.

    But if they don't plan on radiation, I'd ask why they want the teeth pulled.

    Welcome to the forum, sorry you're here, but there's an awesome crowd of people and tons of experiences and information.

    Best,
    John

    teeth
    thanks so much for the response john. I'm hoping I can get used to my false teeth well enough to use them after a couple of weeks.
  • essexave
    essexave Member Posts: 5
    #7
    Dav1965 said:

    I did too
    I had 4 teath pulled. Mine had no cavities but had been filled and the fillings were deep. The teeth being pulled were the part that upset me the most. It bothered me worse than being told i had cancer.

    teeth
    thanks for the response. I guess I'll find a way to work around the teeth problem.
  • luv2cut1
    luv2cut1 Member Posts: 288
    #8
    essexave said:

    teeth
    thanks for the response. I guess I'll find a way to work around the teeth problem.

    Hubby had all teeth pulled pretreatment
    I agree that it was very traumatic, especially with everything else we were dealing with. We had great prosthodontist who had dentures made within two days. It was hard but Pat went all the way through treatment without peg. After his mouth healed post treatment he was able to get implants to secure dentures. He is doing great
    As traumatic as it is, we have had no trouble. Had teeth pulled in 08 and had treatment. Had recurrence and reirradiation 09. He would say do it now.

    Good luck and hang in there. We'll be thinking of you.

    Myka
  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #9
    pre treatment extraction
    Sorry to hear about your cancer and tooth extraction. My husband just had a bridge and three back teeth on the bottom removed Friday. The radiology oncologist explained that it was necessary because most people get a fungus below the gum line from the radiation induced dry mouth where in the radiated area which will probably not heal because of immune deficiency during chemo. This leads to bone and gum loss, and severe infection which can be life threatning. Better to have it done now when it can heal. He was proscribed pain meds and so had very little pain afterwards.

    My husband has not been able to eat much due to pain from swallowing since his tumor is in the base of his tongue. The problem is getting the calories without getting the sugar and milk which feed cancer cells. A shake made with Whey Protien (which is derived from milk but the protien kills the cancer) and almond milk is recommended. I also read this in books and on the web. His Radiologist also recommended pretreatment pet tube so that if it gets to painful to swallow enough calories they can be given in addition to his eating. He said that a cancer patient can lose up to 20 pounds in a week and it is almost impossible to get it back up so calories are crucial.


    Keep a positive attitude and do everything it takes to survive.

    Blessings
  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #10
    pre treatment extraction
    Sorry to hear about your cancer and tooth extraction. My husband just had a bridge and three back teeth on the bottom removed Friday. The radiology oncologist explained that it was necessary because most people get a fungus below the gum line from the radiation induced dry mouth where in the radiated area which will probably not heal because of immune deficiency during chemo. This leads to bone and gum loss, and severe infection which can be life threatning. Better to have it done now when it can heal. He was proscribed pain meds and so had very little pain afterwards.

    My husband has not been able to eat much due to pain from swallowing since his tumor is in the base of his tongue. The problem is getting the calories without getting the sugar and milk which feed cancer cells. A shake made with Whey Protien (which is derived from milk but the protien kills the cancer) and almond milk is recommended. I also read this in books and on the web. His Radiologist also recommended pretreatment pet tube so that if it gets to painful to swallow enough calories they can be given in addition to his eating. He said that a cancer patient can lose up to 20 pounds in a week and it is almost impossible to get it back up so calories are crucial.


    Keep a positive attitude and do everything it takes to survive.

    Blessings
  • essexave
    essexave Member Posts: 5
    #11
    teeth extractions
    Thanks to all of you for your very kind and prompt responses to my query. I am doing a Petscan next week in an attempt to find the source of my problem. I am having teeth extractions done this week.
    I was interested in Luv2cut1's comment that her husband had implants after he finished his treatment. I would love to do that if possible after treatment, but I guess it will depend upon the condition of my gums. Any more info on this?
  • luv2cut1
    luv2cut1 Member Posts: 288
    #12
    essexave said:

    teeth extractions
    Thanks to all of you for your very kind and prompt responses to my query. I am doing a Petscan next week in an attempt to find the source of my problem. I am having teeth extractions done this week.
    I was interested in Luv2cut1's comment that her husband had implants after he finished his treatment. I would love to do that if possible after treatment, but I guess it will depend upon the condition of my gums. Any more info on this?

    Hi Essexave
    It was such a traumatic time that I do not remember everything that was done with respect to Pat 's teeth and neither does he. I know we discussed with the prosthodontist the possibility of implants at the time he got his dentures. We knew it would depend on condition of his bone and on radiation field. Prosthodontist got info from rad onc as to radiation field. Xrays and CTs were done and reviewed to determine where implants could be placed. Due to cost Pat had 8 implants to hold his dentures. I believe he could have had more and had permanent implants. We ended up getting our medical insurance to cover them, but we had to fight. Since we didn't know, we did what we thought we could afford. The implants work great.
    If you need any more specific info I will try to get it for you. Just ask on here or pm me. Our prosthodontist was willing to try all options available. He even gave us a huge discount for Pat agreeing to be a" lab rat" and have his procedure done in front of students. Check out all options, as it seems there are many out there. Good luck!

    Myka
  • luv2cut1
    luv2cut1 Member Posts: 288
    #13
    luv2cut1 said:

    Hi Essexave
    It was such a traumatic time that I do not remember everything that was done with respect to Pat 's teeth and neither does he. I know we discussed with the prosthodontist the possibility of implants at the time he got his dentures. We knew it would depend on condition of his bone and on radiation field. Prosthodontist got info from rad onc as to radiation field. Xrays and CTs were done and reviewed to determine where implants could be placed. Due to cost Pat had 8 implants to hold his dentures. I believe he could have had more and had permanent implants. We ended up getting our medical insurance to cover them, but we had to fight. Since we didn't know, we did what we thought we could afford. The implants work great.
    If you need any more specific info I will try to get it for you. Just ask on here or pm me. Our prosthodontist was willing to try all options available. He even gave us a huge discount for Pat agreeing to be a" lab rat" and have his procedure done in front of students. Check out all options, as it seems there are many out there. Good luck!

    Myka

    I forgot to mention
    It was at least 3 months after the completion of treatment before we could begin the implant process. Mouth had to heal and gum swelling needed to go down. Pat finished treatment in August 08 and had all implants done by January 09.

    Myka

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