Can anyone help or explain to me. The Doctors say because of the Radiotheapy my teeth are all bad and two have allready broken they say if they do not take them out they will be problems and if they do the is over 50% chance of me getting an infection in my gums which will mean surgery to remove the bone. It sounds horednous can anyone shred any light on this. They also told me I would go in aoxygen tank for 30 session and then again afterwards. I am very worried what I will end up looking like. What is the worst senario ? Paul

Hi Paul

Its is a common problem with radio that the teeth can be affected so they take them out before radi they did not with yours I have not had tradio but I suffered with periodontal so they took a few of my bottom teeth out i am now havin implants not on the NHs but privatley horrendlously espensive but it is disgusting that cancer victime cannot get it on the NHs as for the oxygen tank I have idea but perhaps the doc can help

ask what they are going to do about fixing you up with teeth otherwiase eating and fac could appear sunken

Hello Paul

Hyperbaric oxygen will improve the oxgen levels in the blood supply to the bone and so improve wound healing. It reduces the chances of osteoradionecrosis as a complication of extraction of teeth in irradiated jaw bone. See these links for more information and a picture of a pressure chamber "Hyperbaric oxygen in the prevention of osteoradionecrosis" and "Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Mandibular Osteoradionecrosis: A Retrospective Study and Analysis of Treatment Outcomes"
Stop worrying and think positive that you are going to be fine - take along something uplifting to read in the pressure chamber!

Best wishes
Vinod

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,

Hello Eileen

Mouth cancer patients are a priority group for prosthodontic treatment with dental implants in the NHS .

I am you could not get the treatment you mentioned under the NHS.

Best wishes

Vinod :coffee:

HI< Thanks Dr & Eileen, I am a bit confused they have not offered to put in any implant or for me to go private and have them done should I ask them about this ?

Paul

HI again i have just thought is the dental implants purely cosmetic or is there a medical importance attached

Paul

Hi Paul

They are both in a way they are fixed sa are just like normal teeth and you might find its difficult to eat with dentures I know I did

Hi Paul

I had oral cancer 6 years ago. I had 16 days of radiotherapy and half of the roof of my mouth out. I wasn't offered any help with my teeth at all. I haven't been able to eat or drink properly since then, but you do get used to it of a fashion! You work out ways of getting cold drink past your teeth and where to chew so it doesn't hurt

My teeth are just starting to really bite the dust now. I've had the first molar out a month ago - it was badly infected - and it has just left a crevice that has healed, but will always be there. The operations to get my wisdom teeth and the first of the molars out where not nice because the teeth didn't just come out, they fell appart. I did heal up within a few days afterwards though.

I'm going back to have the rest of them out now(no matter what my dentist says!) because I would just like to be able to sit down and eat one meal without toothache. I have been up and down to the dentist for years now with him filling them bit by bit and I just wish that I had put my foot down and had them out when they first started to go bad. It has cost me well over �1000 in dental treatment in the last 5 years.

If I were you I wouldn't try to hang on to your teeth if they are offering you a better long term solution.

HI, I have read your comment and I will have to wait until the Doctors say it is time to have them out.The problem being I see 3 differnt Doctors some times 2 at one time and they all have their own ideas. Paul

Hi

If they have not offered you any treatment ask but I warn u they will try ansd fob u off with dentures

Hi Paul

Teeth are worth hanging on to, only if they are in good shape as you can eat better with them. Radiotherapy affects the salivary glands and the decreased saliva increases the risk of the remaining teeth decaying. Also extractions of teeth in irradiated jawbone can result in complications with healing. Hence the dual-need for preventive measures to keep them in good shape. But if the teeth are causing pain and treatment required to save them is complicated and the risk from extraction acceptable, the teeth shouild be extracted (with hyperbaric oxygen if required).

Best wishes
Vinod :coffee: