I’m 62 and completed 33 rounds of radiation on my right tonsil after finding tonsil cancer after having it removed. I completed radiation on May 30, 2024. My dentist pulled a molar on this side in June of 2025. My oncologist was frustrated that he was not involved in the decision. I currently have another molar on bottom right that has a failed root canal which needs removed and a molar on the upper left with the same situation. My dentist referred me to an oral surgeon. Between the two they want me to pull an additional 3 more teeth. I’ve gotten second opinions from my periodontist and endodontist and will meet again with the oral surgeon next week. The oral surgeon and my oncologist are strongly recommending hyperbaric oxygen treatments HBOT to help stimulate red blood cells and promote healing, and to aid in not developing ORN. Ironically the endodontist wasn’t as enthusiastic about this as a necessity, the tooth I had pulled last year healed fine. My oral surgeon seems to think implants on the radiated side will be fine. I find it interesting that doctors, dentists, oncologist and the like don’t seem to have the same theories about dental work on those of us who have been through radiation of the head and neck. I have root canals in my front two teeth (hit with a softball when I was 18 and still have the teeth) I’m concerned if one breaks off that I will need to do HBOT again if I want to do implants on those teeth, the oncologist says the front 8 teeth should be fine without it if the need arises for implants in those teeth.
I’m on the same page as the other person who posted about not knowing about the dental ramifications after radiation, I feel like my oncologist barely brought this up prior to treatment and my dentist had no suggestions, I see through some of these feeds that some were encouraged to do fluoride trays after radiation.
Hope this might help someone going through anything similar.