Dental Work

[lesleyg]

Hi Everyone

After some very expensive root canal work (which hasn't been successful) I have been advised to consider either seeing an endodontist or having the tooth out and having an implant. I have a could of questions -

Are there any fact sheets on teeth and how do I get to them (sorry but I've forgotten - at least I can blame my 'foggy brain')?

In my case Behcet's is attacking my blood vessels and attached nerves, mainly in my fingers and toes, but could it be attacking my gums?

Has anyone had any experience with implants? This is going to be extremely expensive and I don't want to scrape all that money up and have it wasted.

Thanks Lesley

[lilmario]

Hi Lesley,

A few months ago I had to have a tooth pulled that was "dead." Basically my dentist blamed me for not properly looking after my teeth. This made me so upset because I have always cared for my mouth, brushing my teeth throughout the day, flossing up to 4 or 5 times a day depending on what I eat, using alcohol-free mouth rinse with fluoride, even using specialized high-fluoride toothpaste, and I got to the dentist every 6 months for check-up and cleaning, but nothing seems to matter.

Since my Behçet's started attacking even harder, I have had receding gumlines with darkened or blackened areas. I had one baby tooth that was left in my mouth (my dad has the same thing) and out of the blue it started rotting away. Within a short couple of months part of it was breaking off and was basically dying. I got a second opinion with a new dentist (my old one also told me that I had 6 cavities throughout my mouth!) who then sent me to an oral surgeon.

He told me that I did not have 6 cavities.He also told me that the tooth would have to come out because it was rottin away and food was getting stuck underneath it. Xrays showed it was actually held very snugly deep inside the gum and bone.

He successfully removed it via a minor surgery which he did in the hospital (not at the dental clinic) just to be safe because of the Behçet's. In the end he actually discouraged me from having a dental implant put in because he said it's very expensive and also food can still easily get stuck in between and underneath.

It's been a few months now and it really doesn't bother me at all. At first it did feel kind of weird having a gap there, but you get used to it.

And yes I do agree with you about the fact that Behçet's can also attack the gums. After all of my experiences and what I'm going through right now, I think that Behçet's can attack anything and anywhere in the body. We have bloodvessels everywhere, especially in the gums.

This was just my experience, but I hope that whatever you choose to do, it helps gives you some i hope deserved and needed relief!

Take care and best wishes,

-Jen

[UKADMIN Partner Behcet's Syndrome Society in reply to lilmario]

Hi lilmario Good luck with your treatment. This is a link to our Factsheets. There is one on blood vessels specifically too: behcets.org.uk/information-...

[JollyHS]

Hi LesleyG, I have had problems with my gums, discomfort and sometimes odd pains, also slight swelling in my cheeks and salivary glands. I had a 'non sergical' (and very expensive) treetment because I had gum disease and Periodontitis. The treatment took some of the gum away, only a tiny amount but around almost all of my teeth. I have been better since and my oral health is better (last trip to the dentist showed that my gums were much better and no more bone decay). I've always been very regular and thorough with my dental hygien and now am even more so, I have all the different sized gum brushes and and spend about 5-10 minutes on my teeth and gums every morning and night. Now I will say my gums have been better since the (not very plesant) procedure. But I think that is more to do with the fact that I am better generally. I have noticed that when I am feeling a bit poorly my mouth can start to get very sensitive again and this often coincided with the ulcers or sensitivity down below, but also on other parts of my body, a scratch on my hand that gets irritated and inflamed more than it should for the size and severity, for example. So in summary, yes I think gum issues are very likely part of the whole Behcets thing.

[Meggy7791]

Hi Lesley

I'm really interested in your recent problem. I, too, have been told I now need to see an endodontist. What was a small nagging toothache showed to be referred pain from the next tooth which on X-ray showed I had internal root resorption to a tooth that already has a crown. I had never heard of this so googled the condition. It is an inflammatory process initiated in the pulp space with loss of dentin and possible invasion of the bone. It states it could be due to trauma ( none I can think of) or auto immune! I thought that I'd be referred to a dental hospital but this isn't the case. Research has shown that depending on the state of the root it would mean extraction followed by implant or denture. It is my front tooth otherwise I'd leave a gap. The cost of treatment is high, especially if they have to graft bone. I've agreed to an initial appointment with the endodontist so I can get an exact plan of what needs to be done and costings then I might look to having the treatment in Eastern Europe. My only concern is the Behcets and what problems this will throw up. Has anyone had treatment abroad? I am on Humira which I've found to be brilliant in keeping the lid on my symptoms but what I thought was sinus side effect has probably been the root canal problem all along. I like other replies have always taken extra care with my oral hygiene and kept 6 monthly appointments. I had a problem a few years ago with the tooth in question and it showed infection which cleared with antibiotics but obviously this continued without my knowledge.

I'm interested to know, Lesley, what you plan to do about your root problem and would welcome advice from anyone else who has had internal root resorption.

Best wishes

Meggy

[2106]

I also had terrible problems with my teeth. One just suddenly died off within months so I had that removed. My dentist thought it would be better just to leave a gap which would eventually get smaller than mess having an implant, didn't know if my body would reject it. Then I had to have a root canal on another about 6 months after that was having horrendous pain in my top teeth so had usual X-rays they could find nothing wrong suggested another root canal which I put off one the expense but two it didn't feel the same. Then bits started falling off my teeth and also they went really loose. About 4 teeth in all on the top. My dentist thought I would loose them all but over 3 months they sorted themselves out and got much firmer. I was still getting the pain so in the end I had a large dose of antibiotics as they thought it could be something to do with my sinus. Thankfully now settled down so they presume I had an infection which had built up over months or years and this had caused it all. Suffer with infections very easily in my body one of my Behcet's symptoms. I have always looked after my teeth so it was a real shock when this all started. This was over a period of about 2 years. I now only use a natural toothpaste as all of this made my mouth ulcers so bad 30 on a good day. I have to be very careful and floss with care. This really got me down as nobody seemed to know what was going on. My dentist was fab never pushed. I do hope that things improve as I really feel for what you are going through. All the best. Xx

[lesleyg]

Hi everyone, thank you so much for your replies. First of all I would like to say that I also take good care of my teeth, but was starting to doubt myself, because of the accusations.

My dentist and I have agreed that from now on I will be having three monthly checkups which might be a help.

I'm seeing the specialist on Monday and will definitely let you know what happens.

By the way, quite a few people in Australia go up to Asia for cheaper treatment, I haven't heard any bad reports.

Thanks Lesley

[Missey1]

Have had very similar 8 teeth that had crowns had to be taken out. As they all had infection / inflamation. This was found by dentist and refered to hospital to sort out what was happening. In all have had to have 10 teeth removed... have not had implants. Hospital advised against it. They felt that i would reject them and possibly cause more problems with my behcets. As i was already in a bad place i agreed. Since then my mouth / teeth have stabilised and i am coping with the gaps.

[gillianTS]

Hi everyone, I have had a kind of problem with my teeth, pockets and pain in jaw and head, I was looking at possible extractions, however eventually I was diagnosed with teeth clenching which I was totally unaware of, I do not grind my teeth and the condition I have been told is still called Bruxism, anyway I went to oral and maxillofacial consultant, after I have been to the dental hospital and it was the oral and maxillofacial who recommended I tried a lower teeth mouth splint which was sorted out by my dentist, now I was not thinking this would help but felt I would try anything I was going crazy with pain, well I am now in my 3rd year and it has made such a difference to my teeth and pockets, gums and teeth in general, no face, jaw and head pain, my headaches are much better. I went back to the dental hospital and was told I no longer have pockets... amazing. The other thing I would mention is when I thought I was going to have to have extractions I thought that's OK if that is what has to happen I will have implants... apparently I would need to have my sinus lifted on both sides before I could ever have any implants... Gillian

[Guna1003]

I too have been told that I need root canal after root canal and have more and more severe tooth decay with every return dental visit. I have read articles that root canals are not necessarily the issue for Behcets patients due to vasculitis and to always get a second opinion. I hope you find some relief soon and no longer need to fuss woth those expensive procedures.

[Sunset]

Merhaba lesleyg;

Uzun zamandır yazmadım. Umarım sağlık bakım daha iyi olur.

[lesleyg]

Teşekkürler Sunshine umarım iyisindir. Bir şeylere çok iyi cevap vermediğim için benim immünologumun herhangi bir ilaç almamı istemediği için biraz mücadele ediyorum.

Saygılarımla Lesley

PS I used Goggle translator so hope it came out OK.

[lesleyg]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I appreciate very much your input. The tooth is just to the side of my front teeth and I have it a feeling it wont be very obvious, although the dentist says that the teeth next to it will start to fall over. I'm 60 now and if it was a matter of over the next ten years or so I don't think i would worry. I have the same fear of my body rejecting the implant. As they say ... stay tuned.

Cheers Lesley

(My old boss used to say keep smiling but I might have to reduce that to a grin!)

[lesleyg]

Hello, I've had my appointment with the specialist this is what he has decided is best in my case:

1. This tooth has to come out (day hospital on the 5th Sept)

2. I'm not a good candidate for an implant given the disease and the medications I'm on

3. I need to do everything I can to keep the rest of my teeth and this would mean appointments for a checkup every 3 - 4 months instead of the usual six.

Will let you know of anything else as it comes up. Thanks for your input. I had decided to not have the implant so I was glad the doctor suggested it himself almost as soon as I sat down.

Bye for now, Lesley

[UKADMIN Partner Behcet's Syndrome Society]

Hi lesleyg Good luck with your treatment. This is a link to our Factsheets. There is one on blood vessels specifically too: behcets.org.uk/information-...

[lesleyg in reply to UKADMIN]

Thanks!