Dentist Advice

**Palmyra** · 04-19-2011, 01:46 AM

I strongly recommend dental cleanings every 6 months (I see some patients as frequently as every 3 months)....especially for Weggies that are immunosuppressed. We harbor a mine field of bacteria in our mouths.

Clean out those bad actors from under the gum line, and arrest decay, before the problems start.

It sounds as though Dee has been on bisphosphonate drugs to prevent osteoporosis (a frequent side effect of long term pred use,) which makes dental treatment a bit difficult....all the more reason to have regular cleanings and checkups.

**Sangye** · 04-19-2011, 02:22 AM

Originally Posted by Palmyra

PS...don't be afraid of dentists, please be afraid of staying away.

I grew up in a military family and we moved at least once a year. Each time we moved we had to find a new dentist. When I was about 4, my parents took me to a "pediatric" dentist who'd been recommended to them by other military families. I had to have a filling done and they made my mom wait in the front room. At some point I started to cry. The dentist put his hand over my mouth and nose and I couldn't breathe. He said he'd stop when I stopped crying. From that point on I had a sizeable fear of dentists.

In my teens we found a great dentist and over the course of many years I began to relax my fear. Then he retired and his replacement decided one of my old mercury fillings should be replaced before it broke. Novocaine had always worked, but it didn't work. He did multiple injections, even into the jaw. Finally he had to do the filling without numbing. The same thing happened with a second tooth. Same thing with another tooth being capped by another dentist. During that one, even gas didn't take away the pain when the drill hit the part of the tooth that wasn't numb. I was so drugged that I couldn't scream. It was like a nightmare--like being awake during surgery and no one knows it.

I'd say I have a legitimate fear of dentists.

**chrisTIn@** · 04-19-2011, 02:59 AM

Originally Posted by Sangye

I'd say I have a legitimate fear of dentists.

I guess you have...

Still hope you'll find a good dentist soon.

Palmyra, I go to the dentist every six months, and -since my Wegs dx, have dental cleanings every three months.

**Palmyra** · 04-19-2011, 03:35 AM

Oh Sangye! I am so sorry for your experiences! I don't know which is worse, your childhood trauma or poor experience with local anesthetic. I have heard many similar horror stories. So, that said...yes, there are some poor practitioners out there, and just like finding a "good" doctor, it is very difficult to screen dentists before finding a really good one.

One suggestion for here in the states....call a local specialist's office, such as an oral surgeon or periodontist (board certified), and ask for a couple of referrals for a really good general dentist. Be specific and ask for someone that is ethical and conservative, does really good work, and provides excellent anesthetic management. I actually think many Weggies would benefit from seeing a periodontist, just because of the complexity of your medical condition. Most periodontists graduated in the top of their class (its competitive to get into the specialty,) and have extra training in oral medicine and pain management.

I worry about those of you outside the states....it is one thing we can be proud of here, we still have great dental schools and if you look, you can find excellent providers. It is not without cost, and that is why I stress preventive care. So much can be prevented before it becomes painful or expensive. NOW GO FLOSS!

**Sangye** · 04-19-2011, 03:49 AM

Except for the childhood dentist of course, all the other dentists I saw were excellent and family members did well with them through numerous root canals, etc.... Novocaine just stopped working for me.

Right before I was dx'ed with Wegs I broke a molar (on a Saturday, no less!). I was literally hysterical with fear. I went to a dentist recommended by my naturopath buddy. He was a young dentist but incredibly compassionate and talented. We didn't know that my lungs were hemorrhaging. I was extremely weak and in excruciating joint pain. He was so patient. He got it numb with one shot. I still couldn't relax. (The other guys had also gotten part of the tooth numb and it was only when they'd drill the un-numbed part that I'd go through the roof.) He would drill for a count of 10 and then let me recover. It took hours to do the cap. Never once did he or his hygienist give any vibe of impatience. Despite that, I never could calm down and was hysterical crying and gasping for breath the entire time. As soon as he finished, I stood up and was my normal self. It was pretty funny. I was like, "Who was that person in the chair?"

He seemed to understand what had happened with the novocaine before--something about the drug being different, maybe? That's how it felt. I'd never had any trouble getting numb before the whole mess began.

**pberggren1** · 04-19-2011, 05:01 AM

Oh Sangye! I am so sorry to hear of your aweful experiences with dentists.

I think I have a good one here. He is born and raised here. And he goes to Africa every summer on his holidays to give free dental work to the poor over there on his own time and money. He is very good and compassionate and keeps you in stitches most of the time with all his jokes.

**DEE** · 04-19-2011, 05:52 AM

It sounds as though Dee has been on bisphosphonate drugs to prevent osteoporosis (a frequent side effect of long term pred use,) which makes dental treatment a bit difficult....all the more reason to have regular cleanings and checkups.[/QUOTE]

I have been on high dose preds from jan 2008 with a very short break before my major flare plus not had a break from taking MXD, CXT, CELLCEPT,AND NOW IMURAN.To add to that nearly a year on warfarin 10mg ,and also taking Actonel too on a weekly basis.

What dentist would not be alittle weary sp I dont blame them.
I have been going to the dentist , but they have been hoping I would at least be coming of the chemo, and said there was nothing that needed doing immediately at last check up and clean six months ago. It was when I lost the first tooth they realised things were not right.
These problems have just appeared really suddenly.most of the remaing teeth have fractures in them and three have broken of at root when eating !!

So I have to make my decision by Thursday pm .

**ArlaMo** · 04-19-2011, 05:58 AM

What should we know about dental stuff and biophosphanates? I take fosomax once a week, but neither the dentist or perio said anything specific about it.