Hi Jerry,

You make excellent points here... Dana is dealing with a tough situation mainly because her mom has been falsely "reassured" by the dentist that keeping this tooth is her best option and they have neglected to inform her of the systemic consequences of doing that. It is very difficult to change the mindset of an older person when they rely so much on what their doctors tell them. Cannot blame her mom for holding onto their word.

Bone infections vary in degree, size, intensity, and bacteria. The only sure way to determine the best treatment approach is to have a scan done to help determine the location and size. Then during a bone debridement surgery, several specimens are taken and sent out for a biopsy and culture to determine the severity of the infection and the species of bacteria so the proper antibiotic can be prescribed. Depending on these results and the individual's medical situation, antibiotics may be administered orally or intravenously via a pic line. The patient would be monitored by the OS or physician frequently, depending on their situation until the infection is cleared. Bone infections anyplace in the body are serious medical conditions and that is how they should be treated.

Vitamin D... through personal and professional experience, I have found that one of the best vitamin D3 products on the market are made by a company called Biotics Research. It is called Bio D Mulsion Forte. This is an emulsified liquid that is easily and readily absorbed. Each drop contains 2000 IU's of Vitamin D3.

http://www.bioticsresearch.com/node/1570

When you are deficient in vitamin d, in order to elevate the serum levels to an optimal level, you first have to take large daily doses and then taper down to a maintenance dose. Our body will store a certain portion of vitamin d but when we are deficient, it immediately utilizes the little bit that we give it so the large dosing brings the level up so we can begin to store it.

The initial dosage is determined by your serum 25 (OH) Vitamin D level. This is currently the most accurate serum test for vit d. You supplement with this said dose for 3 months then have the 25 OH Vit D tested again and see where the level is at....the dosage gets adjusted according to this test result. Best to repeat the test at least once a year.

For myself, my vit d level was very low and my physician prescribed an initial dosage of 50,000 IU's of the Bio D Mulsion Forte per week for 3 months. Retested and my levels had increased significantly into the optimal range.. so my supplementation was then decreased to 4000 IU's per day. I now get it tested once per year and my dosage is adjusted accordingly.

Hope this helps!
Bryanna

Hi Jerry,
^^Bryanna nailed it. My mom is a bright person who questions everything and seldom trusts doctors or dentists. Every dentist, endodontist and oral surgeon (DDS, DMD, DDS/MD) said an apico can remove the cyst, thus removing infection. MY mother is about to face that endo's chair for the sixth time in one year today, and she wants to move on. The tooth is part of the bridge, so that's another factor.

As we said before, the apico is a Band-Aid fix. I have a feeling my mom knows that; it's all she can handle today.

Bryanna,

Thanks again for so much info and support. I talked to the endo last night, although my mom's app't is later today. He again said the infection most likely is due to bisphosphonate use. I expected that. His job is to keep teeth in the mouth at any cost, and that cost is quite high, I must add.

We agreed we'd talk more today.

Dana