[Coach]

Hi Everyone,

Can chronic pain cause dental problems. I have been in pain for 10 years. Suppose to be RSD but I don't know. Mainly aching and stabbing pain body wide.

I've had two teeth break off at the gum line this summer. Don't want the pain of getting dentures (pulling teeth). And I'm afraid a dental implant won't hold due to bone loss. Dentist said I can't have a bridge because it involves too many teeth since we can't use my eye tooth. Don't know what to do.

[Dr. Smith]

Originally Posted by Coach

Can chronic pain cause dental problems.

Hi Coach,

In a word, Yes.

From: http://www.practicalpainmanagement.c...tractable-pain

Undertreated severe, chronic, and intractable pain depletes many hormones.5-8 With good pain control, some low serum hormone concentrations may return to normal.9 Some adrenal stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenalin, may elevate in uncontrolled pain as evidenced by tachycardia and hypertension. Prolonged hypercortisolemia produced in severe, intractable pain may produce manifestations of Cushing’s disease including osteoporosis, dental erosion, obesity, fatigue, and muscle wasting. Adrenal insufficiency, with symptoms of Addison’s disease including cachexia, hypotension, electrolyte depletion and muscle wasting, may occur as the adrenal gland exhausts. While severe, chronic pain produces some hormone deficiencies, opioid administration may also suppress pituitary excretion and worsen some hormone deficiencies, particularly testosterone and possibly thyroid.

And from: http://www.practicalpainmanagement.c...in-update-2010

The most destructive effects in severe chronic pain patients that have been observed first-hand by the author are osteoporosis, dental erosion, obesity, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and poor pain control. Of particular note has been progressive spine degeneration often involving the entire spine.

It should be noted that dental erosion has also been linked to long-term opioid use. I do not know if this is directly due to the opioids or to the underlying chronic pain, but as either/both have been implicated, I don't know that either can be ruled out.

HTH,

Doc

[razzle51]

its because of the meds you take that give you dry mouth which in turn causes decay do to lack of saliva

[Rrae]

Sorry you are having these problems.
As the others have stated, meds tend to cause dry mouth which is a huge factor in causing dental issues.
I had healthy teeth all of my life, until I was put on Lyrica. Dental took a dive almost immediately! Even the opioids I've taken for so long didn't seem to cause many problems, but the Lyrica....I've nothing good to say about that med . Now that I've been off of it, I'm doing fine but I had to get a bridge because I lost 3 teeth.

Biotene is good for combatting dry mouth (spray or rinse).

We have a great Dental Forum here at NT.

Hope things start looking up for you

Rae

[Spiney95]

I was in and out of pain mgt between '76 and '95 and full time since '95. I had a molar break off at the gum line several years ago and had what was left surgically removed. Medicaid would pay for that. I have also had two molars simply loosen up and fall out like a baby tooth. My dentist says he is surprised I have any left between the meds, osteoporosis and a host of other problems. My fillings don't stay in well anymore. I drink a bottle of water every hour and brush well four times a day so things are as good as they can be. Hang in there.