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Dental issues after radiation for tonsil cancer?

Head & Neck Cancer | Last Active: Sep 8 10:40am | Replies (3)

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@hrhwilliam

Oh how I wish health insurance would cover the dental issues following radiation in the head and neck. The radiation damages the gums and sometimes (in my case) kills the mandible which is known as osteoradionecrosis. Even with a replaced mandible and prosthetic teeth, I still get charged for dental work if that area is visited by a surgeon, at Mayo no less. Makes me shake what's left of my head sometimes. If you take the buggers to court, I will be happy to testify on your behalf.
About all I can recommend is to find some good dental insurance that covers more than fillings and crowns, which might be the least of your teeth issues in years to come. I hope you are one of the lucky ones where the teeth issues resolve. For me it has been well over $25K out of pocket in the past ten years.
As for now, keep track of dental x-rays by looking for deterioration of the mandible or upper jaw as the case may be. Time will tell. Stay with soft foods for a few years perhaps. Good luck.

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Replies to "Oh how I wish health insurance would cover the dental issues following radiation in the head..."

Thank you. ( I think)!