Experiences with tooth problems concurrent with Zometa treatments

I'm tagging fellow members @ellerbracke @trixie1313 @oilermama @schmeeckle64 @mhsosa who have experience with Zometa, some who took precautions with dental work or experienced issues with their teeth.

@mdr3, what does this mean for you? Will you stop Zometa infusions in order to have dental work done or wait 6 months after your last infusion in June? What do your oncologist and oral surgeon suggest? Are they coordinating together?

@mdr3
Yes -- I had a crown that broke off. The oral surgeon would not remove the tooth until I spoke with my oncologist who said it could be removed but to schedule the tooth extraction as far as the end date of the Zometa time, i.e. 5 months. Also, she wanted to await my FINAL Zometa infusion about two months following extraction.....HOORAY...I am having this final one this Wednesday. So talk with your oncologist and have him/her write you a note for the oral surgeon and if he/she has any questions, they can be in touch. Good luck and let us know how you do. (P.S. The oral surgeon will not do the drill-in-type teeth that people have nowadays due to his concern about jaw breakage. It's fine with me, the tooth that broke was the last one on my lower jaw...feels funny but I'm getting used to it!!!)

Thank you. I was supposed to have my 5th dose of Zometa in November. The tooth breakage happened then and the oncologist cancelled the infusion, thinking I could have the tooth worked on. My oral surgeon at the time refused to do it. Also, I was not having any problems with the tooth and x-ray showed no infection so we decided to have the infusion #5 at the end of Jan. Then I got Covid and that socket and the single tooth next to it has been painful ever since. I also grind my teeth. I need to find a dentist who is not afraid to work with a Zometa patient. The earliest I can have dental work according to my oncologist is late June. It will probably take me that long to locate a dentist who will work with me. I appreciate any feedback.

Hi--can I ask? What was your original prescribed course for the Zometa? How many years? As for me, they think there are problems with the whole line of bottom teeth due to my treatments, which is surprising because I tolerated heavy chemo surprisingly well....but who knows? It could be from the Zometa itself, could also be from Covid infection (have been reading up on that as well). Will have to learn to live with the pain for a while and keep an eye out for infection. There are worse things after all. Thank you so much for your story on this.

@mdr3
I had 6 Zometa infusions that were every 6 months until my broken tooth. And you're right on never really knowing what would cause the pain - chemo, flu, Covid, Zometa, etc. I experience pain around different teeth and am hoping and praying no more teeth go.

I had my second Zometa infusion on March 11, 2022. The cap on a front tooth literally broke in half prior to the infusion. The tooth beneath was fine. My dentist is replacing the caps on my two front teeth so they will match. I have a temporary cap on now and will get the final ones the end of April. I reminded the dentist about the Zometa but he said there would not be a problem since he is replacing caps. I hope that is the correct thing to do. This concerns me for future Zometa treatments. I have a some tooth sensitivity in some areas which is new. I am always concerned about this and would like to hear from anyone who has completed Zometa and has had a bone density test that shows improvement due to Zometa treatment. I do not want to go thru this for no reason.

I am a fan of Zometa. I tend to think that the weakness in my teeth was due to the chemo itself (as does my oncologist) or my Covid infection at the end of January (which was brief and mild, but Covid nonetheless). I have had improvement in my bone density since the start of Zometa, not to mention researchers are beginning to examine the possible tumor suppression properties of bisphosphonates. For me, taking this med is in the category of throwing everything at this that we can (stage IIIc). Dentists become concerned when they actually have to do anything that goes below the gumline (which it sounds like is not the case for you). The best we can do is keep up with check-ups and daily maintenance, not to mention doing what we can to maintain general health and a healthy immune system: best tools and good for everyone. I believe the standard of care these days is 3 years of Zometa, 6 mos. apart. With all our treatment decisions, we take account of the ole risk/benefit chart.

Hi! I was on Zometa for a year. My teeth were sensitive but I didn't have any issues other than that. I have been off of it for 3 years.

Thankfully my immediate tooth crisis subsided for the moment. Just need to buy a little time....Interesting, about the tooth sensitivity. That's what this was, but the red herring here is that I also had Covid which causes sensitivity. Did not bother me before Covid.

Will you have to go back on Zometa. I read that after two or three years off you needed to go back to prevent the large leg bone breakage and the jaw issues. I read this online. Not sure of its validity but would like to know.