Diagnosed with Ameloblastoma

@tdg04 Drs Lee and Rabinowitz at VCU in Richmond VA did my mandible flap surgery. They are excellent. Let me know if you have any questions.
My jaw fractured from the effects of radiation for tonsil cancer. I've been through it from soup to nuts. I just started the process for my prosthetic teeth.
God bless and please let me know if you have any questions.

Hi @pauley
How long did it take after radiation treatments that your jaw fractured and also your teeth went bad?

Thanks

Hi @roblem
About 2 years. My teeth and gums were not in the best shape to begin with.
September 2022 was my last radiation treatment. Before they would start radiation, I had to have 5 teeth pulled.
I was able to get partial upper and lower plate dentures. Then in August of 2024 I had one of my bottom teeth still left give me some issues. Per the dentist, no big deal. He pulled it then added a tooth to the lower partial and all was good. I later learned that HBO therapy should have been prescribed.
May 2025, I wake up with what I didn't know at the time was a fractured jaw. It looked liked I had half a golf ball under my cheek plus the pain. It fractured at the spot where the tooth was pulled. No blood flow, no healing.
August 2025, Jaw reconstruction. 9 days in the hospital, 6 in CCU.
February, 2 2026, Outpatient Debulking surgery to shave back the new gums and also to expose the post for my new bottom prosthetic teeth.
Tomorrow 3-9-2026, I have an appt for the 2nd impressions for my new teeth. During the mandible flap reconstruction, they inserted post for prosthetic bottom teeth. By July, I should have teeth again!

@pauley

Thanks and good luck with the new teeth in July. Just in time for summer.

Am from the UK,been diagnosed with Ameloblastoma just recently.Been sent for a CT scan to see what damage has been done to the jaw and surrounding tissues.
My question is,would you advise having conservative,or radical treatment at my age,I am 75.
My ameloblastoma is right sided at the front of my mandible.
Thanks for reading this.

@rualto hey, I just wanted to reply as I’m also from the UK and wanted to share some advice that may help! I decided to go down the radical surgery route but I was diagnosed and treated when I was 18/19 and my recovery was a lot quicker than those who are treated at an older age. I would suggest considering factors such as your ability to withstand long surgery (you can discuss with your consultant) and your lifestyle in terms of if you would prefer getting it done in one go or going in every few months. Ultimately, you just need to ensure that you are making the best choice for you and I offer all my well wishes and strength to your journey!!

Who is your consultant, I recommend Dr Fry and Dr Alibhai if you go down the radical surgery route!! Please let me know if you have any questions about the recovery from radical surgery or anything else, I am always happy to help in any way I can!

Hi anbar04,
Thanks for replying,I would really like to know about radical and conservative surgery from people who have actually gone through this surgery.
My consultant is leaning towards conservative treatment at the moment,but I had a ct scan about a week ago and am now waiting to hear back from this.
I had an incisional biopsy in July and biopsy results were sent to a professor in Sheffield to verify ameloblastoma.
Going through the nhs route,so I don,t think I,ll be operated on any time soon.

@rualto radical surgery sounds really intense and it can be but the positive is that you endure the surgery and 6 months of recovery and then you’re able to adapt your lifestyle to whatever you’re used to. There’s loads of aspects to recovery such as eating and moving so if you have any specific questions do let me know. I think wait to see your ct scan results and the extent of the damage and go from there!

Thanks so much,I think you are right,I,ll wait and see what the ct scan shows and I will let you know.