Connect
Anyone had lower jaw discomfort after radiation?
I'm post 35 radiation treatments by 7 months and am recovering slowly, with the common side effects. I just recently had a wisdom tooth try to emerge. I'm 75 and that was not something I was expecting. Has anyone had issues with odd activity in their jaw (wisdom teeth, bone spurs, etc.)?
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Head & Neck Cancer Support Group.
Connect
@bsw1950 that is consistent with what i was told. No extraction for at least 2 years, At least. My dentist say MAYBE. My oncologist says NO,No,No.
@bsw1950 What was the reasoning behind the No extraction decision?
My oral surgeon wants to remove 4 implants, 2 on each side in the back because of bone loss. I see my dentist in2 weeks for a 2nd opinion. I just got results from a CT Scan where there is mention of this bone loss. So I guess it’s there and very obvious. I would like to know why he is against the extraction.
@thompswp From experience I can say that the bone loss is a big sign of osteonecrosis or bone death. Tooth extraction can put enough stress on the bone to break it. Then it becomes an emergency repair. By waiting, they can tell if the bone loss progressed. If not, the bone may be healing although likely never to return to full strength and size.
Often it is difficult to find someone willing to extract teeth from radiated bone.
Fortunately there is surgical repair of the bone. In my case it was the left mandible. A section was removed and replaced with a bone and tissue section from my fibula, a non-weight bearing bone in my leg. The tissue rebuilt the gum. The blood supply was connected and the bone healed as part of the jaw without too much trouble. All is well now.
So keep the dentist and your doctor in the loop. If necessary, find one of the larger hospitals or clinics well versed in this rebuild process, also known as a mandiblectomy with fibula free flap.