Any Dentist appointment heads up ?

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trigeek
trigeek Member Posts: 916
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer
Any Dentist appointment heads up ?
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  • trigeek
    trigeek Member Posts: 916
    edited June 2008

    Hi Gals,

    Just before starting Chemo I went to my dental hygiene appointment, and it has been about 10 months since then. I finished chemo 5 months ago and would like to go back to my regular dental routine.

    Are there any heads up for us chemo-gals I had DD AC and Taxol. Do we have to take antibiotics prior to cleaning or something like that or is it business as usual ? Anything against x-rays ?

    Thanks,

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  • wackyjackie
    wackyjackie Member Posts: 669
    edited June 2008

    Trigeek,

    I finished DD AC and Taxol in November and went in January for a cleaning.  It was business as usual.  I was even undergoing radiation at the time.  Nothing was different.  Well, I mean, my whole life is different but luckily my teeth and gums are the same!!!!LOL

    Good luck.

    Hugs, Jackie

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  • LisaSDCA
    LisaSDCA Member Posts: 2,230
    edited June 2008

    As a patient, I'd rinse with Biotene before going, just to soothe everything. As a long-time hygienist, I would like to be reminded at the beginning of the appointment that you are recently out of chemo. Of course, I always update the health history before I put on my gloves, so it would come out then. We'd chat about whether you had problems with dry mouth, mouth sores, etc. and whether they had resolved. Antibiotic coverage should not be necesary unless you have a pre-existing condition or developed one from chemo (heart problems from herceptin would have been a possibility in a Her-2+ patient). X-rays if you are due. If you had rads, I would inform your dental team that you have cause to minimize your exposure. I'd do that anyway, unless you have decay problems, because we tend to have more scans that the average Joe Q Public and 'routine' dental x-rays don't need to be routine in a patient with a record of good hygiene and a low decay rate. 

    Good for you for getting right back - you'll avoid many problems that way.Cool

    Lisa

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  • wishiwere
    wishiwere Member Posts: 3,793
    edited June 2008

    Wasn't there something with some of the hormones drugs or thyroid drugs about mentioning it at your docs? Maybe i've gotten something mixed up, but ....just another question for lisa?

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  • LisaSDCA
    LisaSDCA Member Posts: 2,230
    edited June 2008

    Oh yes - part of the health history update is a review of current medications. Hormone meds, calcium channel blockers, bisphosphonates, etc. all can have clinical manifestations. And most antidepressants and many anti-anxiety drugs can add to dry-mouth symptoms - so be sure to either review your pharmaceuticals or take a list!

    Lisa, RDH-EF

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  • SoCalLisa
    SoCalLisa Member Posts: 13,961
    edited June 2008

    Hi Lisa..good to see you giving out good info...

    Ladies..she really knows her stuff... 

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  • LisaSDCA
    LisaSDCA Member Posts: 2,230
    edited June 2008

    Oh, SoCal - you're such a sweetie. Y'all, she knows how much I want the Taxotere neuropathy in my fingertips to go away so I can get back to clinical practice. SoCal - I have another temp. day lined up for this Thursday - crossing my (buzzing) fingers!

    Lisa

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  • Sandra1957
    Sandra1957 Member Posts: 1,701
    edited June 2008

    Lisa,

    I'm not sure if you remember me, but I was at one your SD Ladies gatherings a while back.  I need some dental advice also.  Wondering if you could help me out.

    Just when I thought that I was almost homefree of doctor's appts. and maybe could find some time for fun spa appts., I had a lower front tooth fracture off at the gumline (no pain, had a root canal when I was 12) last Friday.  It was hours before I was giving my daughter her college grad party.  Talk about a bad time to look like a jack-o-lantern.  Anyway, my dentist is on vacation so I saw his partner on Monday.  He is recommending a bridge (less expensive), but as I research how a bridge is done  (grinding down of two "good teeth"), I don't think I want this.  He said my other option is an implant, but that they are very expensive.  I haven't asked for prices.  How much more is an implant as opposed to a bridge? My insurance covers 50% up to $1000, not much, but a little something.   I'd like to be a little more knowledgable when I meet with my dentist next week before I make a decision. 

    Thanks, and I hope that you're doing good!!

    lini (used to be boobless, now toothless Foot in mouth)

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  • mke
    mke Member Posts: 584
    edited June 2008

    It was business as usual for me after the same chemo treatment.

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  • BethNY
    BethNY Member Posts: 2,710
    edited June 2008

    Lisa always has great dental adviceLaughing.  I just had my 6 month cleaning this morning-- I never like going, but I get too scared to put it off, b/c the longer I wait the worse it might be.

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  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited June 2008

    I just came back from the dentist and recieved a through cleaning.  I finished my chemo in Sept 2006 4 DD AC and 4 DD Taxol.  I had a heart sonogram done last year which identified I have a heart murmur and all valves exhibit small amount of regurdatation (spelling?).  So dentist office calls PCP and asks if I need antibiotics prior to dental cleaning and told no.  Get x-rays and cleaning done and dentist identifies I have bone loss in the back of my jaws top and bottom.  Do you think amy be from teh chemo, radiation treatments or the fact that I've been on Femara for 1 year now?

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  • Sierra
    Sierra Member Posts: 1,638
    edited June 2008





    I have had dreadful bone loss

    since chemo



    and also loss of teeth



    Many do complain of this

    but, not All



    I do the best possible

    just had a cleaning $165.00.. bucks



    Hugs,



    Sierra



    spent a fortune on teeth

    and still paying off my bill



    but it sure does help to take

    care prior to chemo



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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited June 2008

    If you've developed lymphedema, be sure to check with your lymphedema therapist for advice about using a phophylactic antibiotic for dental work, as infection is always a serious risk for us lymphers.

    Thanks, Lisa, for sharing your expertise. Hope you're soon back to on the job!

    Be well,

    Binney 

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  • shrink
    shrink Member Posts: 936
    edited June 2008

    I had some major dental work lately - the extraction of 6 upper teeth and now wear a full upper plate.  I needed to take anitbiotics after the surgery and a blood test before the surgery (C telopeptide) to see if there had been any necrosis in my jaw.  This was necessary since a had taken Fosamax for several years.  Medicine for bone loss can cause damage to your jaw paradoxically enough.  On Thursday I'm having cataract surgery. I need to take preoperative antibiotics ( eye drops) for that. I am falling apart but I'm NED for now! Grateful for that.

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