i can't take the pain and infections anymore. my mouth has been piece mealed through the years and the pain is never ending. i think it's 'time'.

i'm going to start with onlyl an upper because of the cost and fear that upper/lowers will be too uncomfortable. the dentist has suggested uppers and lowers at the same time for a better fit.

can just uppers be fit properly to my lower teeth when i am missing one molar and will probably have a 2nd lower removed?

we talked about implants, but the dentist never heard of rsd. when i told him an external fixator with stainless screws in my arm for a fracture caused rsd and showed him my still atophied hand, he said it might not work. the pins on my fixator could be pulled out by hand for removal because the bone damage was so severe from rsd.

i'm on amoxycillin for 7 days for possible abcesses in a few roots and my gums. i have a refill for 2nd dose if this doesn't help.

i do have permanent bridge on my right side (span of 5 teeth) that i have never eaten on because it just feels too weird.

is this what dentures will feel like? i think i cracked the tooth holding the partial and also have a cavity under a cap on the lower teeth below it, so it's been a problem.

since getting rsd i've had several abcessed teeth and root canals (had unsucessful ones in the past) and caps are not an option. they don't stop the tooth from self destructing UNDER the caps!

is there any test a dentist can do to see if you are a good candidate for implants? i've heard that chewing is easier with implants.

right now i'm chewing on only 2 teeth in the rear of my mouth and i have almost no tearing food ability, so dentures can't be much worse right?

thank you

HI Neuromess,

Well I am in somewhat of the same boat as you. Have an infected root canal that is really messing me up. I can't take the infections any more either but I dont think mine is as complicated as yours. I see the dentist tomorrow.

Anyway Bryanna will be along to help you. She is very knowledgeable!

thank you shelly. i hope you make out ok at the dentist. i was suggested for me to have a root canal/cap on one of my bottom teeth that is already capped, but i've been down that road before and the tooth was still in pain, pinned and eventually shattered.

i *really* don't want to do the lower w/out implants if i can do it. i'm fine with a regular upper. i just want to be free from pain and not end up like many ppl that go toothless because their dentures don't work out

right now i can't even eat a potato chip they hurt so bad. the dentist said they will calm down when the antibiotic kicks in, but none of my teeth are really viable to save long term.

i also have some metabolic muscle disease and need to see a neuromuscular specialist. i've been dragging my heels to make an appt. i know that the lower jaw muscles hold the denture in place, versus suction on the top, so i want to make sure i can hold the lower denture if things get worse.

what a mess!

thank you!

ps can an infected mouth cause night sweats? i've had night sweats for a year and a half which drive me crazy. the only time in my life where i had night sweats so bad (unrelenting) was when i had endometriosis and my ovaries quit working.

that was years ago and i had a total hystero in the 80's. quit hormones totally 10 yrs ago, so i can't believe it's menopause. i'm in my 50's.

thank you

Hi Neuromess,

Obviously, you have several dental issues going on at the same time. Your rsd can be a complicating factor which may limit your options for permanent replacement options. The (sad) truth about most dentists is that they know little to nothing about the body like a physician would know. And unfortunately, many physicians know little to nothing about teeth! With that said, it is not surprising that your dentist didn't know about rsd. So you will probably have to make some of your own decisions about future dental treatment based on what you learn on your own.

About dentures........
No, they do not feel the same as a permanent bridge. The bridge is cemented in place, whereas a denture is not. A bridge may or may not get food trapped underneath it, a denture may (depending on the fit). Bridges do not come out unless the cement seal is broken, whereas a denture is taken out to be cleaned and then it should be left out at night when you sleep so your palate can be bathed in saliva to avoid a fungus infection.

If at all possible, it is advisable to have upper and lower dentures made at the same time to ensure a matching set. Believe it or not, a new set of dentures are measured to accomodate your existing jaw alignment but they will give you a new occlusal alignment. If an upper denture is made to fit into your existing lower teeth, then it will not fit properly into a new lower denture later on. Denture teeth are completely different than natural teeth because they are either plastic or porcelain and they are not anchored into bone. There are no ligaments holding them into the jawbone so there is no natural give and take movement like there is with natural teeth. However, you cannot have a lower denture made and put it in the drawer until you are ready to have the teeth out..... it won't fit when that time comes.

As far as chewing ability........ dentures take time to get use to and eventually the person finds their own comfortable style of chewing. Dentures that are made to be put in immediately after the extractions generally fit much better than if you wore nothing at the onset. However, this type of denture is only temporary and will need to be replaced by a new one in about 6-12 months after the extractions. The surgical site actually heals to the shape of the denture so the fit is more secure.

Lower dentures are a whole other story. Since there is no suction (like the palate) to hold them in, they simply sit on top of the lower ridge. They generally move around when you talk and chew. Sometimes some adhesive works well to hold them in for awhile and then needs to be reapplied.

Dentures retained by dental implants do allow for easier chewing and speaking abilities because the implants hold the upper or lower denture in place. Depending on your individual circumstances, you may only need a few small implants to do the trick. It would be wise to consult with someone who specializes in the placement of dental implants and see what your options are.

There are two "tests" that are sometimes done to help determine if someone is a good candidate for dental implants. I'll tell you what they are, but keep in mind that neither one is totally reliable at any given time. One is a serum test called the Clifford test which shows if the person is sensitive to the titanium that is used in the dental implant. Another is called Kinesiology or muscle testing. This also shows sensitivty or acceptance to a particular material. Both of these test results can vary depending on a variety of circumstances that are too lengthy to get into here.

I wish this could be easier for you........... I know it can be overwhelming and frightening, but the infections are definitely not healthy so please try to keep focused and continue to pursue the answers that will help you to move forward!

Please keep in touch with us along the way!!

Bryanna

wow thank you bryanna. you are a wealth of knowledge!

right now between my permanent upper bridge and untold dental work through the years, my bite is already off quit a bit. that and tooth grinding sometimes at night.

even though an upper won't fit well with my lower natural teeth, i can't imagine it could be worse than what i have now as far as bite. i'm hoping i can ride my natural lowers a bit longer as long as the infection is cured. i have 2/500mg rounds of amoxycillin to kill the infection.

knowing i'll have to get another upper denture when i ultimately do the lowers down the road. without implants, i don't think i dare going with a lower.

those pins causing rsd, really scared the crap out of me!

in addition to a neuro muscular problem, i also have a very dry mouth (ears and eyes too) which probably contributed to the sudden collapse of my dental health. i'm hoping the neuro muscular doctor can pinpoint what the problem is.

but i'm pretty sure the dentist is correct and they have to come out. i've been on borrowed time with them for quite awhile.

i wish i had known i had an infection and it had been going on awhile. they did the 360 deg xrays and that's what they said they saw. i'm used to abcessed teeth (usually on a w/e!) but not used to a whole mouth infection. i know my teeth feel slimey even after brushing, but no bad odor or taste. and my gums sting. could that be the infection?

the reason i ask, is if i decide to stall a bit for financial or cosmetic reasons. how will i know if the infection is actually gone?

thanks so much for your help, and yes i will let you know what i decide to do and the outcome.

Hi Neuromess,

You are very welcome, glad to be of some help to you ~'.'~

Your occlusion <bite> can be off from many things. One of the most common reasons is due to having ongoing dental work over the course of several years where the bite has had to be adjusted and readjusted to accomodate new work. This is why if someone needs to have alot of dental work, it is best if it can be done within a few months time as the bite will not need to have so many readjustments. The second most common reason the bite can be off is due to periodontal disease. With this disease, the infection causes the gums to become inflammed which signals the ligaments to swell which causes the teeth to shift out of their natural spot. This disease also causes bone loss which cause the teeth to become loose and again shift out of their natural spot. The third reason is tooth grinding or habitual clenching. Both of these habits cause irritation to the periodontal ligaments <these ligaments hold the teeth in the jawbone> which in turn cause the teeth to shift out of place. Teeth only have to move a millimeter or two to create an unnatural bite pattern.

You mention infection in your lower teeth...... Do you have abcessed teeth and/or periodontal disease?? Not to alarm you but to inform you...... neither of these types of infections are going to be "cured" by any amount of antibiotics. The meds may temporarily subside the symptoms, but the symptoms will return over and over again because the infection will still linger under the gums/within the teeth. The problem with taking repeated doses of antibiotics is that the bacteria eventually becomes insensitive to it and then new/different strains of bacteria develop.

The other thought to consider is any long standing infection in the mouth <periodontal disease and/or abcesses> will cause bone loss. The lower jaw is very narrow <in width> to begin with. So if you are considering the placement of dental implants, at least in your lower jaw to hold in a denture, the bone will need to be very healthy or the implants will fail.

Your dry mouth etc....... could be autoimmune related. Have you been tested for Srojens disease or thyroid disorder?

I saw on another post that you mentioned you were getting hot flashes. You are the prime age <50's> for menopausal symptoms which are not uncommon in women without their uterus. Even though you had a hysterectomy, your hypothalmus gland will always be producing hormones. You could have an imbalance that may be contributing to your dry eyes, etc.

I know..... lots of information to swallow here. I don't mean to sound matter of fact...... I just want to provide you with information that might help you along this journey!!

Look forward to hearing from you,
Bryanna

Neuromess and Bryanna,

I usually lurk on the MS page, but have been visiting here off and on
with dental problems.

I had two molars pulled in Jan of 07,infection, possibly already infected, ended
me in surgery having osteomylitis cut out of my jaw. The surgery to replace
the missing bone with bone from my hip was even more traumatic.

Now another shattered molar on the other side is scheduled for early April
and I am not quite, but nearly at panic level. I should perhaps have them
all out, but infection is such a big issue, and I don't want to land back with
the IV antibiotics and Hyperbaric oxygen tanks.

I would consider implants if they were feasible for someone with my wonky
immune system. I have seen pictures in the dental offices and they honestly
make me cringe, but I am desperate.

I already have a partial on the top of my mouth, with my dry mouth and the
cut nerve in my jaw, eating in public is messy at best and mortifying the
rest of the time. I am also having some difficulty with talking intelligibly,
especially on the phone.

I so identify with you Neuromess, and hope that we can both see good
outcomes with our problems.

Thanks in advance, Bryanna.

kami

Hi Kami,

So sorry to hear that you had such a horrific experience with your last dental extractions. Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone or bone marrow and it usually has traveled from another part of the body through the blood. This type of infection is frequently diagnosed via biopsy in root canaled teeth and the surrounding bone. Especially in long standing tooth infections. This is one major reason why I am so anti root canal! It is very hard to eradicate completely because it can spread to other areas.

Were you premedicated with an antibiotic before the surgery? Sometimes this can help in conjunction with the actual surgical debridement of the bone during the extraction as far as the healing is concerned.

Why was the donor bone removed from your hip? Were you given other synthetic replacement options or were you not a candidate for those types of bone grafts?

My suggestion to you is this....... it may behoove you to have an IV drip of vitamin C and glutathione immediately after the extraction. This is a major boost to the immune system to help with the healing. Not all oral surgeons or dentists will do this. Some patients go to their physician for the IV instead of having it in the dentists office. Perhaps you could get some guidance from the IAOMT organization. www.IAOMT.org

Please try not to panic. I know this is very scary. Here are a few websites that may be helpful.

http://www.drshankland.com/osteocavitation_lesions.html

http://www.docguide.com/news/content...25709000690E6B

http://www.cda-adc.ca/jcda/vol-66/issue-11/600.html

Please remain hopeful and keep us posted on how you are doing!!

Bryanna

Hi back, Bryanna

I am premedicating with Clidamycin and hope that it is sufficient. I didn't in advance last time, only after.

About the bone "harvesting"n I did ask about cadaver bone, coral or a synthetic implant.
I was turned down flat; they (the surgical group?) felt that they had the best outcome
with a patient's own bone. Just a lot more pain and another scar.

I was extremely nervous about the possibiltiy of two infections aftert the surgery.
Happily there was only one, at the site of the sutures, not the bone(s).

I will enquire about the immune boosting IV; I am in a difficult spot as my system
seems to be overly active with the immune system attacking nerve myelin and brain
tissue. I take Avonex weekly ( interferon-beta 1a) to depress my immune system and
slow the advance of the Multiple Sclerosis.

Thank you for the links to sites. I will do some more research before the proceedure.

I will post back later with any results. All the best, kami