Long term dental issues

Hi Ngary 

Whereabouts are you? There may be a late effects clinic you can attend for extra help. 
Can I ask whether you were given any trismus exercises right at the beginning. ( I know it’s too late but I was just curious) I hope I’m not intruding. 

Hi Dani,

I'm now based in Ireland. My treatment was all in Birmingham ( ironically I work in ENT dept as an audiologist!).

I'm now under a hospital in Dublin, but I do feel that a combined ent / dental clinic has really been missing.

I was never advised to undertake any exercises due to possible trismus risk ...which I think would have been valuable in hindsight ....I was at around 2cm mouth opening  until I had the recent dental surgery...4 weeks ago..which I had to have...but now only 1 cm....and although using the therabite now progress isn't great and discomfort is significant when exercising.

Kind regards 

Ngary 

Ngary said:

and although using the therabite now progress isn't great and discomfort is significant when exercising.

I think all you can do is persevere. 
So sad for you. Xxx

Hi, 

In a way I just wanted to raise the importance of dental health following radiotherapy to hnc.

And to suggest that jaw exercises become a standard...to reduce risk long term of trismus 

Every day is a bonus.....but there are always changes !!

Best wishes

Ngary 

Hi Ngary. I have had trismus ever since I had my ops for jaw cancer starting in 2013. I can only open my mouth 1 finger wide now as the trismus got worse every time I had an op. I used tongue depressors stacked to try and maintain my mouth opening as the Therabite was too expensive. It is quite painful if I try and force it too much. It is a bit of a trial keeping up the exercises every day but definitely worth it to try and prevent the trismus from becoming worse. I don't think HNC patients realise the importance of maintaining mouth opening as it really impacts on how you eat, clean your teeth etc. I support your suggestion that the professionals should really emphasise the importance of jaw exercises because of the long term risks.

Lyn