Anyone had lower jaw discomfort after radiation?

Hi Steve and welcome. I as well as many have had teeth and gum issues due to radiation. Mine were so bad I had my left mandible replaced, twenty years after radiation.
Two years out should give you a good indication of what if any issues you may have ongoing. In the meantime you are still in the recovery stage from radiation. Just keep your dentist informed and perhaps your oncologist, particularly if the oncologist has head and neck treatment experience other than just you. I know that last bit sounds odd but it is more common than we would expect. Welcome to surviving cancer.

Wow, you've been through a lot. Thanks for sharing.

I have a wisdom tooth trying to come up after being dormant all my life. Did you have or have you heard of people experiencing that?

@fanortner I think the radiation can have profound effects on oral and dental health. It doesn’t surprise me a wisdom tooth decided to make a breakthrough. Likely however the tooth didn’t move or push. The tissue around it dissolved and exposed it. The teeth in front of it lost some gum support with a result of pressure, which had always been there, now revealed. That’s of course me theory based upon my own experience as well as others in this forum.
Hopefully you have a better time of it. And time will tell. My main issues didn’t begin until I was about five years out of radiotherapy. I traveled the world for work as an engineer and wasn’t able to be as attentive to my oral health as one should.

@fanortner, has your cancer team suggested having the wisdom tooth extracted or to watch and see?

I had 30 radiation treatments that ended on Mar 25, 4 weeks ago. Yes my lower jaw hurts along with Lymphedema. Four teeth removed during tongue surgery, but it was radiation that resulted in jaw pain. My understanding and reading is to avoid any work post radiation therapy concerning tooth removal.

Thanks for your input Colleen. I don't have my next scheduled dental appointment for another month and wanted their opinion (like what exactly are we dealing with here?) before seeing my oncology friends (scheduled shortly after). I would have made more urgent appointments, but it's now quite asymptomatic. Neck lymphedema has even calmed down a bit.

@jaybb1
I too have been told about the avoidance of invasive dental procedures after radiation. "Post radiation", however, can be a LONG TIME (hopefully for all of us :)). I'd like to get a little more clarification on that. Like most cases, each is unique and I suspect so too are timelines. I'm thinking the history of radiation should always be a consideration when evaluating dental issues and potential procedures.

I’ve had 25 rounds of radiation and I’m about 7 months out. My lower jaw is a little sore but not too bad. I use fluoride every night religiously with dental trays. I’m hoping to save my teeth. Good luck and keep up the good fight.

@fanortner My dentist does not completely, but does somewhat, agree with not doing implants to replace the 4 teeth removed at time of tongue surgery. It is so much easier when ALL agree. But the disagreement results in much individual research, careful attention to any mention on this site, and a BIG word of caution. I have learned recently how important it is to evauate the reason for any dental implants. Is it for cosmetic reasons, or is it for functional reasons. For all my life I have been most concerned with the cosmetic appearance of my teeth. And functional was important--but taken for granted with proper care. Now after 30 radiation treatments and a good understnding and reading how risky to have a implant procedure may be---the cosmetic consideration is not secondary, but IS immaterial. My dentist has expressed that we just do one implant and see how it goes. My tongue doctor/surgeon, based on his experience takes the view: NO, do not do, the potential of major jaw disaster is too great. My mouth if not what I would want 20 years ago cometically, but I will not look for complications that I will regret greatly by doing even one implant. I have taken the approach that CAUTION trumps all else. I have learned that just because ones pocketbook does not match her outfit, or wrong color socks, or hair not combed exactly right, is ALL Immaterial---and so is dental implants if at all can be avoided.

@jaybb1
I had radiation ( bilateral neck) 2 months ago.
Had serious tooth infection.Dentist advised one RCT and one extraction. My oncologist gave go ahead for Root Canal but a big NO to extraction for next 2 years.