Dentist and ONJ: Today I went to the... - SHARE Metastatic ...

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Dentist and ONJ

19 Replies

Today I went to the Denstist. It all looked spotlessly clean I felt at ease. I was the only patient in there.

So, where I lost the crown that was patched up and where the tooth had broken next to it that had a temporary filling. It’s just such a shame we can’t have a complete treatment still. I understand the risk but to try and get a dental appointment when we go back to some sort of normality will be impossible. The dentist will do aphone consultation next week to make sure I’m ok. She is brilliant. As for my ONJ treatment I have been transferred to another hospital miles away and they have a huge backlog of Cancer patients. Great aye? Wonder what would happen if i paid privately. It’s against my principles though. Why should I jump the queue when there is others more needy.

I’ve noticed I have rib pain today. I think my pains are exaggerated when I get a little stressed. So, allotment it was for a few hours and I feel better already.

Hope all is ok with you all today. A butterfly at our allotment today. Beautiful

Cheryl

19 Replies
Joannaaaa profile image
Joannaaaa

Hope you get some relief from your dental work and relax and feel better after your allotment work.

in reply to Joannaaaa

Thank you

Barbteeth profile image
Barbteeth

My practice is doing all kinds of treatments but it’s private...sometimes you have to put yourself first and pay up

Barb xx

in reply to Barbteeth

I think it will come to that Barb. I have to get a Consultant to look at this jaw bone. It’s only small at the moment but it sharp where the Consultant broke small pieces of bone off before. I had no stitches. The dentist said the socket is nice and clean but it all about whether I want to continue with the Denosumab injection.

Hope you are coping ok.

Take care

Cheryl

Gosh, what a shame about the dental issues/hassles! But, wow, re: that butterfly!! I literally cannot remember the last time I saw a butterfly...it's been years, if not decades... :( . So I appreciate you sharing the beautiful pic...

Lynn

in reply to

I have so many pictures of them Lynn I would bore folks to tears with them 😄🥱. Glad you liked it.

seiler profile image
seiler in reply to

We are so fortunate to have a crown flower bush in our yard that butterflies develop on. They have started to return and today I saw orange ones and yellow ones. Beautiful Hawaii.

in reply to seiler

How wonderful. Try and take a photo to share.

stardust1965 profile image
stardust1965

Hi Cheryl

Such a beautiful butterfly! I also get pain under my ribs if I’m a little stressed or need to do personal admin. I don’t know why but my brain just doesn’t seem to want to function then so my husband has been gradually taking over which I am grateful for but I also get frustrated with myself. Ho hum - I’m learning to let go!

Years ago our dentist went private, then retired and despite my best efforts we have never been able to get an NHS dentist in the South East. It gets very expensive for a family of five! I once walked the entire town and ended up realising that until someone dies I didn’t stand a chance of getting my name on a waitlist! Recently I tried other areas but there simply are no NHS slots available. Stay with your NHS dentist but in the meantime you should get the treatment done privately because you don’t want the ONJ getting worse. Don’t hesitate to jump the queue, if you’re paying out of pocket for it, to get the care you really need. xx

in reply to stardust1965

That’s unbelievable. I know when we moved here I registered with the dentist straight away. My husband, as usual, waited and when he needed to go he had to go on the waiting list for 6 months. He paid private to have his filling done but that fell out that evening. Cost him £40 and he wouldn’t go back. It was only very small so he wasn’t bothered. Mad but that’s him all over. I think a majority of dentists went private. When we lived in Cornwall our dentist was going that way. WHY!, It baffles me.

I will not hesitate to go private now. My dentist is doing a phone Consultation next week so I will ask her as I need to know if I should stay on my Denosumab. My Oncologist admitted he knows nothing about ONJ. Great aye? Think he needs some insight.

My rib pain has gone this morning. It happens every time. I had a break in a rib on the left and breaks in two ribs on the right from the Cancer. They have healed now. Guess that’s one of my weak spots. I’m glad you are delegating. My hubby even puts the washing out for me. Mind you he doesnt know how the machine works ha ha.

Have a good weekend and take care.

Cheryl

stardust1965 profile image
stardust1965 in reply to

That’s cheap! £70 for general dentist checkup then £72 for hygienist where we are. Any work needed is on top of that. Last visit I got my daughters to skip the dentist and just have the hygiene appointment (teeth clean) £142 x 5= way too much!

It is worrying that your onc hadn't linked ONJ and Denosumab. My BC nurse said it was more common that people realise and she had seen several patients with it. So I opted to get a milk tooth pulled even though it wasn’t causing me a problem at the start of my zometa but I didn’t want anything going wrong in the future. With zometa it is more accumulative and stays in your system for 10+ years. Far longer than Denosumab. Let us know what is decided going forward with that treatment and I hope you do get the ONJ sorted.

Beryl71 profile image
Beryl71

Ours is booking appointments but they keep getting put back! I saw the hygienist but there was no cleaning and polishing with the machine. She said she wouldn't do anything invasive because of my condition. Fingers crossed all will be ok later! Hope you get something sorted.

in reply to Beryl71

That’s right. No using water that sprays. Mind you my dentist used a little yesterday. She does all the descaling etc herself and said it was being allowed soon. Isn’t it a shame for them in that profession. Not being allowed to complete your work must be so frustrating. Yes, let’s hope we can reach some normality soon. Our dental care is so important and it’s been dropped like a ton of bricks.

Have a good weekend.

Cheryl

Hi Cheryl and other ladies,

I just got a reminder email from my dentist about my checkup appointment in November. My last appointment was cancelled due to Covid. I can’t remember how much it is for NHS care, but I think it’s around £35.

The hygienist is private and costs £55, which isn’t too bad. But you can’t see her again until you have paid a deposit a year in advance. So after my last appointment with her in March I felt a bit put out that I had to pay a deposit to be seen in March 2021! Part of me was thinking “what if I’m not around in 12 months?” This rule was introduced this year. I think I’ll have a word with the hygienist and explain that I find it hard to plan too far in advance because of this disease. Of course I’ll be around, but you can’t always control your thoughts.

Sophie

in reply to

Hi Sophie, they charged me £27.50. Not to bad really.

What a nerve charging for something so far in advance. I’ve never heard of that before but then again my dentist is my hygienist as well.

You will be around for donkeys years, no fears about that lovely lady. Have a word with your dentist. I’m sure they will understand but it may be out of their control. Can only try.

Have a good weekend. We had frost this morning. Couldn’t believe it but it was lovely and fresh outside.

Best wishes

Cheryl

in reply to

Hi Cheryl,

That's not bad at all.

When I see my hygienist again in March I am going to mention that I don't want to be paying for treatment 12 months in advance. I think that it is out of order too. I don't mind paying about a month or so in advance, but not a year.

I do plan on being around for donkeys years! I have to stick around long enough to race my husband up and down the corridors in our walking frames in the nursing home!

It was a cold start to the day for us too, but no frost yet! Enjoy your weekend.

Sophie

Julie2233 profile image
Julie2233

It’s against my principles too but as a nurse friend commented that me going private opened up a space for someone else. Not many consultants give up doing private practice to treat more nhs patients.

in reply to Julie2233

Mmmmm.....food for thought there.

Have a lovely weekend.🧚🏼‍♂️

Julie2233 profile image
Julie2233 in reply to

Ps meant to say that I love the picture of the butterfly 😊

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