Hi dahlek,
I cannot tell you how many patients I have that have been on Fosamax or similar, only to have their osteoporosis progress, not improve!

My personal physician does not recommend the use of bisphosphonates because of the long term negative affects on the bones. Instead, he monitors my vitamin D levels with a serum test called 25(OH)D or 25-dihydroxy vitamin D, every 3-6 months. You may want to do some research on vitamin D and bone health........ you will be surprised with how important this vitamin is to our overall wellbeing. I was very deficient in vitamin D with my serum level being at 12 (optimal is 60-100). I supplement with a product from Biotics Research called Bio-D Mulsion Forte and my serum levels have since stayed in the 60's!!

Another good supplement for the bones is vitamin K2. There is good information on this (and vitamin D) on Dr Mercola's website. Of course calcium, magnesium, boron, and silicia are also helpful and work synergistically with vitamin d3 and k2.

I agree with you that you have several possible contributing factors to your root resorption. Is this the only area in your mouth that has this condition? It is imperative for the oral surgeon to know that you have been taking Fosamax along with your entire health history and other meds. He will need to take certain precautions when debriding the bone and your healing may be monitored closely for a long time.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing ~'.'~

Bryanna

Right now about the Bionophosphates....I re-re-re-read the 'latest' Prescribing Info [as all know I am a strident advocate about this!] and found a teeny tiny print footnote about taking a 'break' from it for a few months ...never stating why. Not one doc has EVER mentioned this teeny fact to me. I find it appalling and yet, I do HAPPEN to be the the 'bone-wise' between rock and hard place regarding the osteoporosis.
Before the cancer was 'found' 18 mos +/- ago, my teeth were losing enamel as if losing quarters to the slots...My feet -the bones were suddenly turning transparent...I upped my calcium and all to no avail. Chomping down 6 different calciums combos to get the right amount of Mag has been an adventure...getting all that extra stuff without the 'bonus' of unwanted B-6...which aggravates my neuropathy well has also been fun? I DO know theres lots of K in there tho...
I wish that the endocrinologist appt were sooner than Oct tho...Maybe the ocon that I see next week or the Neuro next month will order the metabolic tests to see how I'm faring? Sure hope so as the the general/standard test has only been the chem panels.. I've a suspicion more 'things' need to be watched...sigh.
As far as resorption - this is a whole new world to me [aside from horses who have bone spurs[splints] on their legs suddenly having them go away...no people tho] I guess I have to go 'look it up' now I know how to spell it right?
I had suspected a bunch of big UH-OH's with all this, when it started 'sort of ' small, but I suspect more that we are talking BIG TIME U-O's now. I suppose I should be grateful that the U-O's aren't in a bigger size type?
Onward, will most likely get the surgeon's name on Wed...more fillings with more after that...I'm in a holding pattern about long-term repair or pull actions given all the 'contingencies'...For a year I can deal with the holding pattern...after that, I believe some long term issues regarding teeth are going to have to be VERY realistically dealt with.. That is probably worth another thread tho isn't it? Honestly about resorption...I've only HEARD of it in this last week? YIKES! I know I've a couple of other 'gray areas' being 'watched'...Who knows?
Another bone [pardon pun?] for me to gnaw on tho..would be: is my 'chomp factor' a possible cause for an infection that, in spite of a nite gard, got the old auto-i ball rolling down hill? So many tests, I realize NOW, that could have been done, when done at the rite time, COULD answer soo, many, many questions NOW. It positively confuses the few functioning brain cells left [after meds, of course]!
OH well! Life goes on, with or without pain! I will trudge on some how, tho not necessarily gracefully?
Super thanks again. I will be 'armed' with knowledge and ask the proper questions to [as Garrison Kellior says:] Do what needs to be DONE!
Are we having fun yet? - j

Endodontist said can't do a root canal, referred to dental surgeon....who felt that w/all my 'issues' patching what's there is better than taking that small % risk of not healing and infection-that could occur. He did not feel that the Fosamax in tablet form was the big issue more that the auto-immune issues and possible infections or calcium issues from the cancer & seizure meds were the big problems. The surgeon is holding his cards so to speak that I might be in the .06% who might encounter healing problems....long term ones.
Soo, everything's on HOLD...I'll see my dentist to discuss where we go from here, if anywhere.
Sooo, Monday an update on the current state of confusion will be added to this state of confusion.
I do believe I will be even more confused then. Isn't life wonderful?
At least I met one dentist to whom I did NOT have to explain all my medical issues. He looked at my summary sheet and went: HUMMM!
I suppose that part was refreshing compared to visits with many MD's, on the other hand, I have to ask: Why aren't MD's as up-to-date as the dentists? - j

hi dahlek,
I've been away for awhile, but I did get your private email...... thanks for the kind words :-))

I understand what the dentist is saying about patching this tooth. You have a very compromised immune system and the meds you are on cause their own set of problems. So there is no way to know how the extraction site would heal if this tooth were removed. The real concern with this or any other tooth, is infection. It really needs to be monitored closely, as do all of your teeth.

You ask the question about MD's not being as up to date as dentists....... actually, both professions know little about the other one. The only DR'S that know both medicine and dentistry are those that have sought a combined degree and/or have spent alot of time learning on their own. I always say that all MD and DDS/DMD degrees should be dual degrees making it mandatory for all physicians and dentists to learn about both. Doesn't that sound like a good idea??

I know this is very confusing, but try to remain positive and just keep asking these dentists questions until you are comfortable about making a final decision.

Please keep us posted!
Bryanna

a matter of deciding what options [if any] are the lesser of the potential evils. Probably maintaining status-quo for a while and patching as best possible will be the safest route.

Well, I was impressed by both the endodontist and the oral surgeons as they seemed more versed in autoimmune issues than most docs I meet. Thing is, I suspect they see folks who haven't gotten their teeth cleaned 3-4 times a year as I regularly had in an effort to always try to keep my teeth . I've been diligent about these things for decades and I'm no better off than if I'd just neglected them totally.

Needless to say, I believe I am more than a bit peeved rite now. It's good to have a knowledgeable touchstone such as yourself to help preserve one's sanity!

As for dentists and docs talking to each other - I guess it's equally difficult to get docs in different fields to become a bit more 'interdisciplinary'. Just a teeny bit of knowledges about other fields and the conditions they treat and where fields meet and intersect would be ultimately OUR lifesavers, or at least knowledge of the meds we take and how they affect our other medical conditions could save us all a lot of problems down the road. Sigh!

Onward now to muddle onward! - j