1. < Head & Neck Cancer

Dentures plus implants after radiation

Posted by mikecarroll1937 @mikecarroll1937, Nov 8 8:13am

I’m an 87 year old who finished 35 rounds of radiation and 6 chemotherapy sessions to attack stage IV squamous cell cancer near my vocal cords ending 05/23/24. Recent scopings revealed no signs of tumor.
All my teeth were removed prior to radiation. My Dental Surgeon suggests dentures supported by two implants.
I’m hesitant due to my age although am in good health if this is right path for me.Has anyone experienced this and what was the outcome. Would like to hear pros and cons. Thanks much.

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Mentor
William Olsen, Volunteer Mentor | @hrhwilliam | Nov 8 9:57am

Hi Mike. I'd be hesitant about the two implants. The radiation can really mess with your mandibles. My advice (non-professional) is to talk with your Oncologist or GP as to what they think your body can handle. Particularly this close in time from treatments, you are far from fully healed in my opinion.
I understand that a soft food diet is not pleasant every day. But please proceed with caution. Hopefully someone else in this group has more experience with denture work. Good luck, and good courage.

REPLY
1 reply
mikecarroll1937 | @mikecarroll1937 | Nov 8 10:28am
In reply to @hrhwilliam "Hi Mike. I'd be hesitant about the two implants. The radiation can really mess with your..." + (show)
@hrhwilliam

Hi Mike. I'd be hesitant about the two implants. The radiation can really mess with your mandibles. My advice (non-professional) is to talk with your Oncologist or GP as to what they think your body can handle. Particularly this close in time from treatments, you are far from fully healed in my opinion.
I understand that a soft food diet is not pleasant every day. But please proceed with caution. Hopefully someone else in this group has more experience with denture work. Good luck, and good courage.

Jump to this post

William, thanks so much.
At my age would be happy to go on as it is. Am very fortunate to have a good recovery from radiation, although had difficult time with swallowing issues, mucus, dry mouth.
Bad neck burns etc like everyone. Had a wonderful radiation team at Kaufman Cancer Center in Bel Air MD.
This forum helped me immensely during recovery

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1 reply
josk | @josk | Nov 8 10:54am
In reply to @mikecarroll1937 "William, thanks so much. At my age would be happy to go on as it is...." + (show)
@mikecarroll1937

William, thanks so much.
At my age would be happy to go on as it is. Am very fortunate to have a good recovery from radiation, although had difficult time with swallowing issues, mucus, dry mouth.
Bad neck burns etc like everyone. Had a wonderful radiation team at Kaufman Cancer Center in Bel Air MD.
This forum helped me immensely during recovery

Jump to this post

Hi Mike
As William suggested - have your dental surgeon connect with your oncologist as to what would be best for you.
I had treatment in 2006 - nasopharyngeal carcinoma IV, with 35 sessions of radiation and also with chemo thrown in. A few years ago, my root canal in the front teeth broke and option was either dental implant or dentures. Dentist suggested dental implant, but my oncologist was not in agreement for the dental implant. But, believe my dentist managed to convince my oncologist that since it's in the front - it should be ok. I eventually got the dental implants - but then in my case - the implant occurs to the two front teeth.
Hope this helps!

REPLY
1 reply
mikecarroll1937 | @mikecarroll1937 | Nov 8 3:36pm
In reply to @josk "Hi Mike As William suggested - have your dental surgeon connect with your oncologist as to..." + (show)
@josk

Hi Mike
As William suggested - have your dental surgeon connect with your oncologist as to what would be best for you.
I had treatment in 2006 - nasopharyngeal carcinoma IV, with 35 sessions of radiation and also with chemo thrown in. A few years ago, my root canal in the front teeth broke and option was either dental implant or dentures. Dentist suggested dental implant, but my oncologist was not in agreement for the dental implant. But, believe my dentist managed to convince my oncologist that since it's in the front - it should be ok. I eventually got the dental implants - but then in my case - the implant occurs to the two front teeth.
Hope this helps!

Jump to this post

Hi Josk. thanks for that helpful advice. Am seeing my radiation oncologist and chemotherapy oncologist later this month and will report back to this forum the results of meeting.

REPLY
jazzyjoy | @jazzyjoy | Nov 9 11:02am

Hi,
Had brachytherapy to mandible after removal of front teeth. At age 87 did have implant for front teeth (permanent not removable) but after radiation results concluded. Took a while. Not perfect but pretty good after 2 years. Also had bridging crowns on maxilla after remove of 6 teeth (no evidence of cancer but did have 3 cancers one after the another 3 months apart before getting radiation). Fortunate if oncologist and dentist can coordinate, I had to do much of coordination.

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1 reply
mikecarroll1937 | @mikecarroll1937 | Nov 9 9:17pm
In reply to @jazzyjoy "Hi, Had brachytherapy to mandible after removal of front teeth. At age 87 did have implant..." + (show)
@jazzyjoy

Hi,
Had brachytherapy to mandible after removal of front teeth. At age 87 did have implant for front teeth (permanent not removable) but after radiation results concluded. Took a while. Not perfect but pretty good after 2 years. Also had bridging crowns on maxilla after remove of 6 teeth (no evidence of cancer but did have 3 cancers one after the another 3 months apart before getting radiation). Fortunate if oncologist and dentist can coordinate, I had to do much of coordination.

Jump to this post

Thanks for that. Am meeting with radiation and chemotherapy doctors later this month to determine if it’s too early in recovery to go forward

REPLY
jersey3422 | @jersey3422 | 3 days ago

Please give an update. I’m looking to do a bridge because I’ve heard implants wouldn’t be an option after radiation.

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mikecarroll1937 | @mikecarroll1937 | 2 days ago

Hi Jersey, visited with my radiation oncologist and she is going to call my oral surgeon to discuss the two implants he wants to put in to hold lower dentures in place (oral surgeon is of the opine that lower dentures may pop loose otherwise.) I’m leaning toward dentures w/o implants because I’m not convinced that my mandible hasn’t been compromised due to 35 rounds of radiation. Will keep you and this forum updated as to what occurs.

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