Dental treatment

[standeasy]

Is anyone else suffering from a rotten tooth while halfway through chemo? I would welcome any advice. I am surviving at the moment, trying to stay on Paracetamol with Ibuprofen and codeine for when necessary. The dentist says I must have swelling and a temperature before they will consider seeing me. It seems I have to be stoical. I shall be coming off the steroids in a couple of days and then it will be the big dip!

[dexta2005]

Hi, have you tried oil of cloves? Its old fashioned, but it works. If it becomes swollen or starts to throb, then the dentist should give you antibiotics, as it sounds like an abcess. x.

[Hidden]

Hi there. I didn't realise you weren't supposed to have dental treatment whilst on chemo (or have I just forgotten?). I'm on Avastin and have been on it for 5.5 years (following chemo). You're not supposed to have extractions whilst on Avastin (fillings OK) as it's a bit of a blood thinner. Last Sept I tripped on an uneven footpath while on holiday in New York (our daughter & family live & work there) and smashed my 6 front teeth. Required a lot of dental work, as you can imagine but it HAD to be done. I asked the dentist if he thought I bled more than I should have. He said perhaps a little more. All seemed normal to me.

I can't think why your dentist would need you to have a raised temperature. I can't ever remember having a temp when I've had toothache. I really don't think stoicism is enough to see you through toothache.

Just an opinion : I'm assuming your chemo is every 4 weeks. So if you wait out the dreadful 1st week, then I think it's day 10 that your immune system is at its lowest, so wait a bit beyond that, then go for it (may need a different dentist). Best wishes. Pauline.

[jenny8c]

Earlier this year (BV - before virus) I had a rotten tooth which had split completely top to bottom and an infection had got into the root. They gave me anti biotics as a temporary solution but it had to come out. I had to wait 6 weeks from my last chemo before they would extract it. It was completely rotten - the bottom of the root was spongey. In the worse case I could have had sepsis from it. I would try another emergency dentist if I were you. Good luck -tooth ache is horrible xxx

[Eriksendi]

I’m not on chemo at the moment but I’ve also broken a back tooth, well almost all of it has fallen out just a tiny bit of tooth and filling left. I rang my dentist and had the same response. Closed due to Covid. They sent me advice and said if the pain gets really bad, swelling etc - call back and there is an emergency dental facility they can use by referral only. So perhaps call back - there must be somewhere in the area they can refer you to.

[Cropcrop]

It’s the raised risk of infection during chemo that is the biggest issue due to our reduced immunity and dental appointments are now even more problematical during covid19. My oncologist recommended no dental appointments during chemo and even then not until my immunity returned to more like normal. Clove oil really helps with the pain, but if you get swelling or a temperature it’s possibly an infection or abscess and that’s when they would be more likely to give you an emergency appointment.

I hope your pain eases soon. Stay safe ❤️Xx Jane

[Ruebacelle]

Ask oncologist for antibiotic if you think its infected. Strongest toothpaste here in france its flurodentyl use mouthwash 2 or 3 times a day rinse dont swallow plus at night to avoid dry mouth spray w a mouth spray designed to keep mouth moist.

[retired2013]

Hi Ladies. I have some dental issues but not sure if it has anything to do with the Chemo I was on carbo/Doxil but been on Lynparza for 1 1/2 hear and wonder if some of it could be from that.