Dental issues with cll,,

[pati23]

Dear Cll`ers

I finished O and V in August 2023,, I am 73!. My query is how much are we affected by CLL and Treatment, regarding our teeth.

I seemed to get receding gums, quite quickly in the last year.. currently a molar thats cracked,

nerve pain.

I am now wondering if Root canal treatment, expensive, as it is, is worth it?

I have had friends, no CLL, who have spent a LOT of money ,only to have to eventually get extractions.

So far i have manged to keep a reasonable set of teeth, even though, some back molars are

heavily filled, and with 2 crowns..

Any ideas or thoughts would be appreciated. !!

I am reported to be stage 1 again by my local Haematologist, mostly blood numbers are

within normal, and i am feeling more energetic.

There is so much uncertainty these days, financial and health..

[Hazel33]

I have had no end of dental problems. Root canal treatments that don’t work resulting in extractions and gum problems, and lots of pain. Is this due to CLL, no one knows

[pati23 in reply to Hazel33]

Thank you hazel,

i do think its probably age plus CLL. Today ive had Root Canal abandoned as the tooth was cracked, sadly had to have extraction!! I have a problem clenching my teeth, when stressed.I`ll be going back to get a tooth gaurd/protecter to wear at night.

[Kcspooner]

Hi Pati23,

I’ve really noticed a change in the sensitivity to my teeth since I was diagnosed with CLL in 2021. The sensitivity at the time eventually got better after I was put on CLL medication and my blood numbers normalized.

In February of this year, 2024, I got really sick and the sensitivity came back again with a vengeance. As time goes by and I've healed, the sensitivity is getting better again.

I absolutely believe CLL affects our gums and teeth.

Wishing you the best.

[smilemaker in reply to Kcspooner]

There are several excellent OTC sensitivity toothpastes available to use on a daily basis. Make certain that you are using a very soft toothbrush! Oral B and Sonicare electric brushes or the Nimbus manual brush are a few choices. You will also need to be sure to floss your dentition and use a Waterpik with warm water to ensure you are doing everything you can to keep the healthiest mouth for you while our bodies deal with CLL.

[AnneHill]

Hi, If you lock your post you may get more replies. Go to the more option and choose only to this site. I had a crown fitted and I had nerve pain. The crown was removed and I had root canal work and the crown replaced. It doesnt feel natural and its a food trap. Its ok at the moment. The hygenist is surprised at the improvement in my gums. Iv cleaned my teeth really well and used the little brushes every day. My gums have shrunk and food gets caught between my teeth.

I imagine many of us has problems as we age. Its hard to know if cll is the problem. We need to beware of bleeding gums and infections, Anne uk

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to AnneHill]

Pati, Further to Anne's comment, here's how to lock your replies to this community

healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo....

With respect to your question, my dentist says that dental problems take many years to develop, so CLL treatments are unlikely to be the cause. I would however be cautious about any medications that cause mouth dryness.

Neil

[pati23 in reply to AussieNeil]

Thank you Neil I forgot, not been on here for a while

[Blue2018]

Hello, my fellow CLL Warrior I am 66 I have been experiencing dental issues within the past 2 years diagnostin, 2018. Thank God I still have teeth in the smile zone. But I'm losing teeth like every 3 four mouths. Now only have like 2 molars left.🤷 And one getting extracted next week. Good luck blessings always.

[Kiwidi]

My teeth are crumbling. I had great teeth up until the time I was diagnosed with CLL. I can’t afford to go to a dentist as it is realy expensive here in NZ so am making sure I take care of the ones I have in the meantime.

[jillybird13]

my lovely dentist is adamant my teeth have deteriorated since I had treatment. I have a failed root canal, my gums have receded and a few teeth that are crumbling . He’s doing his best to save as many as he can . The root canal tooth will end up being extracted .

I am meticulous with my oral hygiene but seems as though I’m fighting a losing battle .

[craterlake in reply to jillybird13]

i have had the very same experience .. mine definitely started after a month of 40 mg. per day of prednisone just before calquence .. i even had a tooth decay underneath my crown ..now that i am almost finished with 2 years of O+V they have stabilized .. blessings , james

[SeymourB]

pati23 -

With the decline in immune function before, during, and after V&O, and with aging in general, it's no wonder that we get more dental problems. Immune function after Obin is suppressed for a year or more after last infusion - I'm still waiting for my B-cells and immunoglobulin to recover as of 6 months since last Ven and 12 since last O. I haven't seen a study has done on the effect of IVIG on dental problems.

I had several root canals with crowns during W&W - on my uppers. I think these are related to chronic sinus infections as well.

I bought a Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush that has a 30 second timer each for upper outer and inner, and lower out and inner, and it has greatly helped my gums. I even used it on treatment. I brush the teeth, gums, roof of my mouth, and my tongue.

In the U.S., dental records and medical records are not consolidated. CLL specialists are particularly ignorant of dental issues, except on a theoretical level, I think. The same is true with opthalmology, I've found.

=seymour=

[skipro]

I've had dozens of tooth problems and have spent so much $, I'm considering dentures

[Goopteal]

I will never have another root canal. While it is contested by the American Dental Association, natural dentists believe root canals trap infection, and there is a connection between root canals and developing cancer. I had my one root canal removed, and it was infected, although I had no symptoms. I also had all of my mercury fillings removed. This actually helped my gums. I have no more bleeding when flossing or brushing.

[SofiaDeo in reply to Goopteal]

There is some data that there are *associations* between "poor dental health" (including infected root canals) and cancer.

nature.com/articles/s41416-...

But if "some root canals cause problems" this doesn't translate to "all root canals cause problems". Infected root canals are not the same as the fact of a root canal. You may have the opinion that root canals "cause cancer" but research has debunked this. There may be an association, but there's no data supporting "cause and effect."

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

aae.org/specialty/wp-conten...

cancer.ca/en/cancer-informa...

aae.org/patients/root-canal...

There are studies regarding certain bacteria's effects on gingival and certain cancer cells. Please note in the link below, some of the bacteria tested aren't part of the normal oral flora.

If fecal bacteria are getting into your mouth, infecting a root canal, causing cell proliferation thought to stimulate carcinogenic processes, it's not the fact of having a root canal that is the problem IMO. It's what lifestyle things you are doing/not doing, resulting in you getting these bacterial species in your mouth. Pathogenic bacteria are the problem.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/331...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articl...

[Goopteal in reply to SofiaDeo]

The cancer debate was moot for me because I had CLL already. I pulled the tooth because it did not make sense to keep a chronic infection in my mouth. My point was that I had no symptoms. My conventional dentist debunked any connection regarding root canals. My naturopath told me to check the root canal. The natural dentist found the infection. Who knows how long it was infected. I will not take the chance of another hidden infection with another root canal.

[SofiaDeo in reply to Goopteal]

Goopteal, I agree with your concerns. My point was you made a false medical claim, that there is a connection between root canals and cancer.

It's correct to say there is a connection between dental disease, which includes *infected* root canals, but not root canals per se. And it's misleading and incorrect to say "there is a connection between root canals and developing cancer". That's just not true. And was the point of my reply.

[Adlucy]

Hello Pati 23. I am 76 and finished V and O. When I started treatment, the consultant emphasised the importance of oral hygiene. I have not got the knowledge to say whether there is a connection between CLL and teeth/gum issues

My dental problems actually started well before I was diagnosed with CLL. I had abcesses, lost teeth in pregnancy, gum disease and was thoroughly depressed as I had always gone to the dentist twice a year. I put it down to stress and hereditary. I was referred to a periodontist who was so unpleasant that I could not bear to go back. He told me I had neglected my teeth and that it was my own fault.

Then I had to change dentist as the practice was sold and became private. The new dentist said she would work with me rather than my having to go back to this awful man. My dentist is very good. ( I dread her leaving!) I use the toothpaste, mouth wash and toothbrushes she recommends and have a clean every three months to check what's going on. She monitors very carefully so if there is a sign of gum disease coming back I go every four weeks. She does not recommend an electric toothbrush if you have gum disease but very soft brushes (curaprox), little brushes, a water pik .

[AnneHill in reply to Adlucy]

I visit the dental hygienist and my gums are much improved. I use an electric toothbrush but it doesnt remove food caught between my teeth. I need like you to use interdental brushes. It sounds horrible but food gets trapped where my gums have shrunk. I also use a manual brush at times. I have fillings and admit that I spent less time cleaning my teeth when I was younger. I am not happy with this root filling and crown but I will keep being careful and using a brush between the teeth. Im glad you have got help as I have. Anne uk

[Analeese]

I have had four crowns, a bridge, a root canal in this past year. I don’t particular think I ever thought it was a CLL but I do have the feeling my poor immune system could be a big factor. Hopefully everything is taken care of now and I won’t need to do anything except have cleanings. Before this year I hadn’t had a, dental procedure for many many years.

[FloridaGal2 in reply to Analeese]

I'm having my first root canal next week. My understanding is a root canal removes any infection or bacteria. All this chat about them creating problems concerns me... If you're tooth structure is good then most dentists recommend a root canal VS pulling a tooth.

[Analeese in reply to FloridaGal2]

My procedure was the first time I had a root canal also. It was a very time-consuming procedure first started by the dentist then sent to an endodontist to do all the work for the root canal. It took a total of 4 1/2 hours between the two professionals to get me ready for a crown. Now that it’s over I have zero problems so I guess it comes down to how good is your professional. They were excellent, when I needed to rest for a moment all I had to do is put my hand up and they will stop and give you a couple minutes to breathe and release all the pressure in your jaw from having your mouth held open for such a long period of time. I cannot deny that it was painful but saving the tooth for me was very important.

[FloridaGal2 in reply to Analeese]

I will have a pill to calm me and they numb the tooth area. Why did you have pain...was it after due to the trauma on the root or during the procedure? I am going to an endodontist.

[Analeese in reply to FloridaGal2]

The pain was mostly because they open your mouth wide and they put a wedge in between the teeth to keep your mouth open. After a while you end up with a very sore jaw. The pain did not come from the work they were doing because it was numbed very well. It just took a long time, of course the shots they gave you to numb everything hurts like the dickens. A couple of times I felt rather choky. After that, I did find out that I had large nodules in my thyroid. Nothing to do with my teeth at all.