Fractured jaw from radiation - What treatment options are there?

@ads804 Hi Andrea. I had the surgery August 2, 2025. It's been quite the journey. I was in CCU for 5 days and then a regular room for 4 more days. It's a major surgery and when I was going through the recovery, I asked myself several times if I did the right thing. Now that I'm several months out, I'm grateful I did it. I've not had any teeth since the surgery however I'm in the process of new prosthetic teeth. They did put post on my new jaw for the bottom teeth and I'm getting an upper denture. I should have my new teeth sometime in June.
I do have Lymphedema in my neck but it's under control.
All in all, looking back at everything it went very well. Drs Lee and Robinowitz are great to work with and very good at what they do.
I'm glad you reached out and please keep me posted on your journey. Also please feel free to ask me any other questions.
God bless!
Pauley

@ads804 Hi Andrea. I had the surgery August 2, 2025. It's been quite the journey. I was in CCU for 5 days and then a regular room for 4 more days. It's a major surgery and when I was going through the recovery, I asked myself several times if I did the right thing. Now that I'm several months out, I'm grateful I did it. I've not had any teeth since the surgery however I'm in the process of new prosthetic teeth. They did put post on my new jaw for the bottom teeth and I'm getting an upper denture. I should have my new teeth sometime in June.
I do have Lymphedema in my neck but it's under control.
All in all, looking back at everything it went very well. Drs Lee and Robinowitz are great to work with and very good at what they do.
I'm glad you reached out and please keep me posted on your journey. Also please feel free to ask me any other questions.
God bless!
Pauley

@pauley Hello! Hope all is going well with you. I finally have an appt with Dr. Lee this week - is there anything you wish you would have known going into this?

@pauley Hello! Hope all is going well with you. I finally have an appt with Dr. Lee this week - is there anything you wish you would have known going into this?

@ads804 Hi! I'm doing good thank you. I actually have my prosthetic teeth now. It's been a journey getting used to them.
One of the things that I wish I had known was that once the healing started, leg hair grew in my mouth and it's still there today. I have to pluck it once a week or so. I'm not sure if you can do any laser treatments first to kill the follicles in the area they pull from, but if you can, I wish I had done that. It may be a small thing but it's a bother to me. I know, first world problems. lol
Be prepared to lose all feeling in your jaw area on the side of the break as well as the lower lip and chin. Also, talk with Dr Lee about what you will do about teeth after the healing.
Dr Lee was great to work with and VERY highly regarded in his field. We're blessed to have him in our area. He is patient and will answer any questions you have. I might suggest keeping a list of your questions with you and adding to it as they come to mind.
Please let me know if you have any other questions. I'd be honored to help.
When is your appointment?
When you go please tell Dr Lee Paul Heflebower said hi.
Keep me posted. Prayers sent and God bless!

@pauley thank you and congrats on the teeth! I had my appointment with Dr. Lee today; since I’m not in any pain or having any issues with the broken jaw we’re going to keep an eye on it for now. It seems fairly stable.

I recall now. You are correct. It never seems to work well with osteoradionecrosis because once the bone is dead, there is no bringing it back to life. But thanks for the refresher. Never been a fan of initials since my service days.

@ads804 Hi! I'm doing good thank you. I actually have my prosthetic teeth now. It's been a journey getting used to them.
One of the things that I wish I had known was that once the healing started, leg hair grew in my mouth and it's still there today. I have to pluck it once a week or so. I'm not sure if you can do any laser treatments first to kill the follicles in the area they pull from, but if you can, I wish I had done that. It may be a small thing but it's a bother to me. I know, first world problems. lol
Be prepared to lose all feeling in your jaw area on the side of the break as well as the lower lip and chin. Also, talk with Dr Lee about what you will do about teeth after the healing.
Dr Lee was great to work with and VERY highly regarded in his field. We're blessed to have him in our area. He is patient and will answer any questions you have. I might suggest keeping a list of your questions with you and adding to it as they come to mind.
Please let me know if you have any other questions. I'd be honored to help.
When is your appointment?
When you go please tell Dr Lee Paul Heflebower said hi.
Keep me posted. Prayers sent and God bless!

@hrhwilliam
Why did your support for initials stop?
Personally, I find they overused. I wish them limited.

@tri327dent Many people read these posts. We should not assume they all understand the acronyms, initials, and general medical terminology. As an aviator, we use initials and acronyms constantly because regulators love to use them to make themselves look smart apparently. But I never assume a student pilot or passenger would understand any of it. Is it CAVU or IFR today?