Dental work and chemo

Hi

Just to say i was in a similar position, was undergoing treatment at dentist when i was diagnosed and at the time oncologist advised against me continuing treatment unless emergency due to the risk of infection. I actually went today to restart the treatment. I was diagnosed may last year and finished active treatment end of July. To be honest my plan changed quite often so the dentist was put on hold for longer than i had thought.

During chemo i dont think i would of been able to face the dentist and i didnt want to risk picking anything up and delaying the bext session. 

All the best xxx

Yes you should get all the dental work done ahead of chemo. Your dentist should really fit you in as an urgent priority now.

My oncologist asked me to get my teeth checked prior to starting chemo and I had x-rays done to make sure nothing was brewing.

Chemo will batter your immune system and if you have anything that could lead to infection in your teeth and mouth then you need to have it sorted out ahead of time.

Hopefully your dentist will be as understanding as mine - they always fitted me in quicky and that was at the height of covid. 

I had to get mine checked again before I started bisphosphonates.

It's not 'only' dental treatment - your teeth can cause serious infections and you will not be able to fight them off during chemo.

Good luck with your dentist - be insistent! This is a time when you can really put yourself above others.

Hello Hephzi Beebee    I'd suggest trying to get your dental work done prior to chemo if you can, to reduce infection risks  during chemo. Prior to my chemo starting I had a check up, some composite fillings, plus a hygienist clean. My dentist was very good at getting me appointments at short notice once I'd explained that I would be starting chemo shortly. My oncologist was also pleased to hear that I'd had a full dental check up prior to chemo and he started me on bisphosphonates (zometa) early, whilst I was having chemo, rather than waiting until afterwards. You don't want to be worrying about your teeth on top of everything else so when you speak to your oncologist next week ask them about what they would suggest you do regarding the dental work. Usually there will be a few weeks between seeing the oncologist and starting chemo (I had a month's wait) so depending on what your oncologist says you'll still have time to get your dental work done before you start.

Ahh thanks LalaLou

I've told my dentist so they are on standby. I will see the oncologist next week and tell him what needs doing and hopefully I will have time to get it done. 

I need to have sedation for the extraction as it's a complicated one and have to see another dentist but they have fitted me in for tom for a gonsultatiin first then hopefully get me in soon after. 

I'm a private patient simply cause I cudnt find a dentist that were taking NHS patients on. 

I'm self employed. While I was in hospital for the lumpectomy  and recovering  my shop was shut so I simply wasn't earning so that's quite tough when I have quite a few dental bills coming my way. I have asked my dentist if an NHS vacancy comes up can he put me on it. So hopefully......

I think it will be a few weeks until I go on biophosphates.not just the pending dental work but I have had the contraceptive implant in over a period of 10 years. I'm having it taken out next week as they want to see if I'm menopausal. I'm 53 so if it turns out I am then I will go on it.

To be honest I'm really nervous about the biophospates. I just find the other meds that I may have to take in addition to the chemo so daunting. 

Did you say you were on the biophosphates? How were they for you. My cancer had not spread and its now gone so I should be more positive and relieved  but I'm still finding the thought of chemo and other drugs overwhelming. 

Thanks anyway for ya reply. 

Hb x

Thank you btb! 

I've now contacted the dentist so I'm getting my appointments brought forward and will also check with the oncologist next week. 

I'm really nervous about the biophosphates. I guess once I get all my treatment done on my teeth I will relax a bit.

I'm already on methotrexate (for rheumatoid  arthritis)which dampens my immune system  so I know how easy it is to get infections. I guess that will be stopped once I start chemo which I'm fine about. 

I'm just finding the waiting to get onto chemo and additional drugs really overwhelming particularly  with the teeth treatment. I guess I need to slow down, breathe and just calmly get my dental work done,cross it off the list then move forward. 

Thanks for replying x

Thanks lfc

I'm seeing my oncologist next week so will bring it up. I've spoken to my dentists and they can bring my treatment forward b4 my chemo starts. I think that's the most likely scenario. 

At least then I won't be worrying about getting infections due to my dodgy tooth. Lol.

Thanks for replying. Gosh, it so overwhelming isnt it. X 

Just take one day at a time - or one appointment at a time. I had an appointment calendar (an A1 wall calendar) and just took it one appointment at a time. You get into a bit of a rhythm once you're into chemo.

It is all overwhelming, but you will be well looked after. Great you're getting your dental appointments brought forward.- one less thing to worry about.

Hi, I know what you mean about being worried about the chemo and drugs but you'll hopefully find that you get used to the routine after a couple of sessions. I didn't have triple negative, so didn't have exactly the same treatment as you, but I had 8 rounds of chemo (two different types for 4 rounds each) and just tried to take things one day at a time as I found that it helped. Because I sometimes had quite a lot of different meds to take at different times and on different days (anti-sickness and steroids) I made myself a simple chart split into morning, afternoon, evening and then recorded every tablet taken to make sure that I didn't miss any - at one point I had to take 12 a day so was rattling! It's natural to feel worried but the ward staff were really helpful and so was the 'chemo hotline', and they were happy to discuss any concerns/problems, no matter how minor they seemed, so you'll get a lot of support. It's worth making sure that you have a digital thermometer at home for regular temperature checks too.The bisphosphonates have been fine so far. I go to the hospital for an infusion every 6 months and after the first one I felt a bit 'fluey' for a couple of days but I've had three now and the other two were fine, with no side effects. Chemo can feel very daunting but I'm out the other end now, and it's been nearly 10 months since my last chemo and it's now starting to feel like a distant memory. I hope things go well for you during your treatment, it might not seem like it at the moment but you will get through it x

I had to have dental treatment before chemo had two fillings and a tooth out that had broken off. Was advised to get it done before treatment.