General Chat

With covid lockdown and my own self isolating needs it’s been yonks to do my usual dental checks

Was usually every three month hygienist and six months check ups that kept my teeth healthy

Yes age has meant some teeth gave up but I fought to keep what i have

Did lose bottom front ones and have a partial denture that was added too with a back double tooth and fitted well

But!! Chemo suddenly made the back tooth very tight and difficult to get the denture out

So dentist has filed it down ,said chemo has moved the adjoining teeth !
Now got two appointments to fix the cavities!

Am almost embarrassed on how many tbh but also accept chemo has caused more problems

You've had more urgent issues to deal with, so no wonder you have not been able to visit the dentist for some while.

Good that you now have appointments to sort things for you, so don't feel bad these need doing.

You and your dentist are going to get this done.!

I admire you for the courage and determination you have shown with all that you have gone through, well done xx.

Your dentist will work with you to sort your teeth out. Good Luck Shirley, I do hope that everything goes smoothly for you xx

Shirley, before my heart surgery, i had to go to the dentist and get any treatment done which i duly did. This was because I would be on blood thinners and posed a risk of bleeding afterwards.

Nearly 2 1/2 years later and because of the 2 min strokes, i am now on blood thinners for the rest of my life and have not been back to a dentist. The slightest cut on my hands etc and i bleed for ages so i am rather scared now about going.
Thankfully, I dont have any current problems or toothache but not sure what to do.

I am a "if its not broken, then dont try & fix it" kinda person.

Florence in the hebrides

Florence, the dentist will know what to do about you being on blood thinners. The trouble with leaving it is what might be a minor treatment, if you leave it becomes a major one with more likelihood of bleeding problems. why not make an appointment with the dentist for a chat about it instead of leaving it until a visit becomes necessary.

Florence, just to reassure you....
I am on blood thinners, probably for life, and have been for over 7 years now.

In that time, I have had dental treatment and also last December had an operation at hospital under general anaesthetic.
I always make a point of stating that I take the named thinner, even though it will be on my notes. I also told the staff, each time when I went for vaccine against Covid.
As long as they know, they can prepare for it.
Usually what happens before dental treatment is that I was asked to stop the medication for 2 days prior to procedures. This was quite major work and extractions.
Even for the more recent operation, that was all that was required to give the blood chance to revert to more normal clotting levels.This helped minimise blood loss.

After the dental treatment, I think I resumed thinner medication the following day. For the op. the surgeon asked me to wait another day, as I had a drain tube and was being monitored still in hospital.

If you need treatment of any sort, talk to the medical person overseeing you and they will be able to plan ahead and reassure you.

I am also on blood thinners and my dentist always checks first whether I am still taking them.

Unless you need an extraction you probably won't bleed anyway. I agree with the others - if you don't get a small filling done it will become a larger filling or even an extraction.

Well I did have to have a tooth extraction just before I started chemotherapy

Over the months before suddenly got top teeth breaking off that needed attention

Dentist has said my overall health including teeth was affected by surgery and chemo