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Thread: Fosamax and tooth problem

  1. #1
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    Default Fosamax and tooth problem

    Now that my Pred is down to 6mgs I have had a flare up of a painful tooth. I suspect that the Pred was suppressing it. So off to the dentist. As I am on FOSAMAX for my bones that complicated matters. The dentist said it takes about 3 months to get Fosamax out of your system. If I wanted the tooth pulled it would have to be done by a specialist and that it could take up to 12 months to heal. I have decided on root canal therapy as the best option. I wonder what others have decided in this case. When it first started to ache I was really panicking as the pain wasn't localised and I was worried that my jaw was breaking down as can happen with this drug. Regards Carol

  2. #2
    Doug Guest

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    Quote Originally Posted by Carol View Post
    Now that my Pred is down to 6mgs I have had a flare up of a painful tooth. I suspect that the Pred was suppressing it. So off to the dentist. As I am on FOSAMAX for my bones that complicated matters. The dentist said it takes about 3 months to get Fosamax out of your system. If I wanted the tooth pulled it would have to be done by a specialist and that it could take up to 12 months to heal. I have decided on root canal therapy as the best option. I wonder what others have decided in this case. When it first started to ache I was really panicking as the pain wasn't localised and I was worried that my jaw was breaking down as can happen with this drug. Regards Carol
    Print out some basic information of Wegener's granulomatosis and give it to your dentist before hand. He/she may or may not be familiar with the disease. Ask your WG doctor if he/she is willing to talk with the dentist if he/she has any questions. (Pardon- I just re-read what you wrote- I'll leave this in for people who've never been in a situation where they are going to a doctor unfamiliar with WG>>>!)

    Carol, your biggest concern is infection. Your immune system is suppressed, and that opens you up for potential serious consequences with a root canal. In my case, I developed shingles. My molar was abscessed, which complicated things, too.

    Anyway, talk with your WG doctor, noting in as much detail what your dentist told you. It may even be a good idea to have your cellphone with you, if you have one, and have your WG doctor call your dentist so they can talk about bone density and immune system issues you have.

    I've found having doctors' numbers in my cellphone is a great way to assure a doctor actually calls another doctor. It saves them looking up the number, remembering to make the call among everything else one their minds, and, by saying, "I have Dr. XYZ's number on my cellphone, if you'd like to talk with him now," I find most doctors take you up on it. It's an unexpected courtesy, I think, and they all seemed appreciative in my experience.

    (Sorry I run in a jumble. It's around midnight my time, and I am a bit tired!)
    Last edited by Doug; 08-28-2009 at 04:09 PM.

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    I have this dilema with a wisdom tooth that is breaking up. It is not causing me trouble at the moment, but I keep putting off hving it removed because of all the potential problems. In the meantime, I'm probably storing up trouble for the future.

  4. #4
    Doug Guest

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    That was my experience!

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    Care to tell the story, or would it put me off doing the right thing?

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    Carol, dentists are fully educated to work with immune-compromised patients, people on pred, and those on fosamax. I don't think you need to get your Wegs doc overly involved, because the risks aren't specific to Wegs. Infection, slow healing, and jaw bone damage are the big risks, and all are probably equally dangerous.

    I suggest consulting with an oral surgeon about extraction before you proceed with a root canal. I had a molar surgically extracted the month I got off pred. (My body still thought I was on it.) I was also still on oxygen and was extremely weak and anemic. Despite my sheer terror, it healed very quickly and easily.

    Root canals are quite controversial. In my opinion, there is excellent research to substantiate that they can cause autoimmune diseases or worsen them.

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