Dental Impants post radiation

lorig01 said:

Morning. Sorry for your discomfort.

Hi.  I had all of my teeth removed during my neck dissection and treatment for tonsil cancer in July 2012. I totally understand about you feeling weird about complaining about your teeth because I felt the same way.  I told many friends that I seemed to handle the radiation and the surgery better than the loss of my teeth.  I could "eat" soft foods 2 or 3 months out from radiation but my lack of teeth was the real problem that kept me from eating.  I became very depressed.  I had to wait 6 months after the implants were inserted until they would start my "permanent" dentures.  So I had temporary dentures for 6 months. It took me awhile to adjust. I could wear the top denture all day but I never could wear the bottom. It "floated" and made me gag with all the "teeth" in my mouth.  So, I returned to work after 3 months post radiation with only the top denture. You could not see my bottom so no one could tell that I had only top teeth.  After 6 months I was fitted with the permanent denture. I wore just the top for a week and then slowly started with the bottom.  I adjusted right away and I was surprised how well I could eat with them.  Now I am wearing them all day but I do remove them to sleep.  I clean my mouth several times a day.  I cannot feel the implants at all. My dentures feel very comfortable as well. I was pleasantly surprised.  Please feel free to ask any questions about this as I was frustrated about the lack of info about dentures, etc. on the web.  Hope you are feeling better soon.

Thank you...you helped ease my mind and my anxiety a bit. It's nice to hear something positive from someone that had radiation and implants. 

Candi

Sheilarhc said:

Thank you so much.  I cannot

Thank you so much.  I cannot tell you how nice it is to hear that someone understands how I feel about the whole teeth situation. (I’m crying as I write this)  The past two years have been so hard on me.  I think there is guilt attached to my emotions and I don’t want to seem like I’m ungrateful.  I survived cancer, I survived radiation,  and I survived all the ups and downs in between.  Now, I’m trying to survive all the craziness related to my teeth.  I don’t think people understand how emotionally difficult it is to deal with the pain (both physical and emotional) when it comes to not being able to eat.  After radiation I was so thin and just swallowing water was a chore.  I remember one night I was so desperate to eat or even just taste food again, I sat in my kitchen licking a Frito hoping I’d at least be able to taste the salt.  No luck, it was like licking paper and I was at my lowest point.  Even now, my taste buds aren’t perfect but manageable.  The lack of saliva has been a struggle but for the most part, I can eat to satisfy myself.  I really don’t eat meat because I just can’t break it down enough to swallow it.  I remember the days I lived for a Steak with some A1 sauce.  Those days are behind me and I’m finally at a point where I’m okay with it.  Now I’m dealing with all the teeth issues and the pain is hard on me.  I work a lot, I’m a single mother of two and there is very little time for me to deal with all of this.  Food, or lack thereof it, takes a toll on people.   When I hear people say “I’m starving” I think….they truly have no idea what it’s like to actually starve and I hope they never do.  I’ve lost 4 molars on my bottom jaw and wear a partial denture.  All of my top teeth have been crowned.  My gums have receded so badly on a few of the bottom teeth it hurts just to breath sometimes.  At first my dentist said that implants would not be an option but now that my first gum graphing failed, he feels like I should consider implants.  The periodontist that did my gum graphing told me that he would not recommend implants and told me that keeping my natural teeth would always be the better choice.  Last week when I went in to get fitted for new partial my dentist told me that the periodontist is now re thinking his opinion and may recommend implants.  Many have mad mention that they have a permanent denture but I’m not sure what that is.  What’s the difference between a permanent denture and implants?  What I do know is that the word implant refers to the anchor (I don’t know what to call it) that they put into the jaw bone to hold the teeth.  Because I have bone loss, they want to pull the remaining bottom teeth and only put 4 implants in the lower front jaw bone.  With those 4 implants they would make me teeth that would be anchored to those four implants.  These teeth would be one piece and I would never have to take them out.  I’m scheduled to see the periodontist in two weeks for my follow up from the gum graphing and discuss trying the gum graph one more time.  I’m just so scared to allow them to drill into my jaw.  I know it’s my decision if I want to try but I do not want them to destroy my jaw bone and make things worse.  I’ve tried to research implants post radiation and it doesn’t seem like there’s much information available.

So, now that I wrote a novel, again I thank so you so much for responding to my post and I’m happy that you are doing well. 

Hi.  I don't have the kind of implants that I think you are getting.  I have implanted dentures.  These are permanent dentures that snap into implants in your gum. I have to remove them after I eat to clean and I don't sleep with them.  The implants allow you to have more adhesive strength so that you can chew better than regular dentures.  Permanent dentures are what you would think of as dentures.  When I had dentures made they gave me a temporary pair that I used to get used to and then after my gums adjusted they made a permanent pair. They are harder and adhere to your gums better and you can eat with them. I could not eat with the temporary and used them only for looks, (actually I only wore the upper).  With implanted dentures they take your permanent and put snaps in them. These dentures snal into implants that are in your gums. I snap them in and remove them to clean and to sleep, (you can sleep with them but I don't). I asked my dentist about sleeping with them and she said I could but I don't.

I have been thinking about your dilemma.  I know you are concerned about implants and jaw issues.  What if you asked your dentist about dentures? Dentures may work for you.  You can ask them if you have problems with dentures then can I go ahead and have implants put in at a later time and have my denture anchored? If yes then you can slowly move toward a solution and reduce your worry about jaw issues.  They could only put 3 anchors in my lower jaw and I can eat pretty much anything. There is a learning curve though. 

I know it is such a hard decision.  Having to decide in less than a week to have all of my teeth removed was the hardest decision that I ever had to make. I know that it seems overwhelming and it is a big decision.  It sounds to me that the worst thing for you is the pain that you are experiencing so I would press the doctors to see what the best option is to eliminate the pain and discomfort. After that then the next decision might be what options would be best for going forward taking into account safety and functionality. 

Here is a website detailing differnet types of denture options.

http://www.colgate.com/app/CP/US/EN/OC/Information/Articles/Oral-and-Dental-Health-at-Any-Age/Seniors/Dentures-and-Dental-Implants/article/Implant-Supported-Denture.cvsp

Also,  what part of the country are you in? I am in Houston Texas and can recommend my dentist who trained at MD Anderson and worked with radiation patients. She was so careful and cautious about everything that it drove me crazy. But I felt totally safe with her. I hope you are working witha dentist that has experience with radiation patients.  Also, she gave me a discount because my work was medical and not cosmetic. Anyway have to get to work.  Hope you have a great day!

I am also in a similar situation.   I am a 22 year survivor and was told that I was a dental implant candidate.   I did the Marx protocol dives, was pretty sick, and still haven't gotten my vision back.  I had several extractions but the worst part is that one week before my surgery date the doctor backed out.  Where did you locate a surgeon willing to perform implant surgery? All that I've heard from the last eight surgeons I met is that I should just be happy to be alive.  They are all afraid of ORN despite the fact that I've never shown any signs.  Any thoughts or experiences are greatly appreciated.  Not only is my speech, eating and swallowing comprised, but it is taking its toll on my job.  Thanks.

no longer me said:

Did the implants work?

I am also in a similar situation.   I am a 22 year survivor and was told that I was a dental implant candidate.   I did the Marx protocol dives, was pretty sick, and still haven't gotten my vision back.  I had several extractions but the worst part is that one week before my surgery date the doctor backed out.  Where did you locate a surgeon willing to perform implant surgery? All that I've heard from the last eight surgeons I met is that I should just be happy to be alive.  They are all afraid of ORN despite the fact that I've never shown any signs.  Any thoughts or experiences are greatly appreciated.  Not only is my speech, eating and swallowing comprised, but it is taking its toll on my job.  Thanks.

this is an old post.  You might want to start a new thread and you'll get more responses!

Lorna 2007 & 2014