Tooth Loss from Meds?
 

Lately I've been having dental problems. My teeth seem to be healthy (not weak-walled or cavities) but at least 4 have come very loose in the past 10 months, and had to be extracted.
I currently have another loose one, that will be extracted next week.
My dentist has referred me to a periodontist for further treatment & I'll be seeing him the 2nd week of March.
I had severe perio problems (bone loss) about 10 yrs ago and had an extreme amount of work (some below gum-line, bone-grafts) done (about $ 6-8K), but every tooth that was worked on then, no longer is in my mouth - money down the toilet.
I'm not looking forward to another perio round.

Could this recent tooth loss problem, be due to calcium loss from the medications I'm taking? I recently saw a post here, that mentioned something of that sort, while discussing another topic.

I've been on 4200mgs/day Neurontin for 6 years, then switched to 600mgs/day of Lyrica, in the past 3 years.

I also take Tramadol, Zetia, & Terazosin.
I haven't taken any calcium supplements other than a multi vit.

Could this tooth loss be related to my meds?

I think you should post this at our Dental forum here.

Anything that causes "dry mouth" can be a culprit. Tramadol shows about 5-10% dry mouth in side effects reported. The Hytrin also can cause dry mouth, but it is listed at 1% or below incidence.

However, periodontal disease is common in smokers, because not enough oxygen gets to the tissue. Once the bacteria start to inflame the gums, things break down.

I would get a bone scan to see if your skeleton is affected too.
And Vit D levels done, since Vit D is involved with calcium absorption.

But I think Bryanna would be the one to ask, over at the Dental forum here.

MrsD,
Thanks for the suggestion.
I've just posted over there
(BTW- I started taking 2000 IU of D3 daily, this winter)

She works during the day, I think...so expect an answer later today or tomorrow...;)

I never smoked....at age 13, I had 13 cavities filled. Most of my teeth are crowns. It is postulated that I have Sjogren's, but if it is primary or secondary is still in dispute, but they can't really 'name' what the primary autoimmune disease is if SjS is secondary.

I imagine that there are lots of reasons for dental issues....disease, meds, diet among them.

I can commiserate with you, altho, I have been lucky that I have not had gum issues....I just keep cracking teeth. I have nightmares that I am chewing broken teeth.

Would a bite splint help?

Sometimes I think strong teeth/weak teeth are the luck of the draw with genes. I never had a cavity until I was 20, and I'm not so sure it wasn't just a dentist who was affronted that nobody had made any money on me yet.

All this tooth talk reminds me of one of my favorite Kate Hepburn quotes: "She smiled to excess, but she chewed with real distinction." :D

I'm like you...and Bryianna can help - she is GOOD!
 

I learned it the 'hard way' about 3-4 years ago when I simply couldn't do the 3 story walk up to my dentist of 25+ years and went to another, also highly rated in the area..... That said I asked the question about anti-seizure meds such as neurontin, lyrica and ultimately keppra..All state in their s/e's that bone loss is possible/likely. I asked the dental techs and they all said YES! And then w/my post-cancer meds It was YES YES!. I believe we're about equal in the $$'s spent on such repairs. Upon changing to the new dentist? I stated simply that should a tooth lose soo much to support it? It's better out. And that no cosmetic aspects be used, only basic function ones as the teeth were shells and I didn't want to throw good $ after bad? I now get cleanings 4 times a year and have cut my dental 'repair' costs down to 15% of what they were before! But, I also went off the anti-seizure meds and use pain meds only when necessary! Plus about 2 years ago Mrs D provided me w/a great deal of info about the calcium/magnesium and vite-d balances I'd need. I've tried to adhere to that program as best I can, but it couldn't keep up w/the damages the post-cancer[estrogen blocking] meds did, and still do. Just keep in mind that the PN meds are calcium sucker-outers! Then you have to balance your pain levels with the mouth issues? [not meant in an unkind way, truly] But many meds we take, do harm aspects far off base from what we'd expect.. so you have to balance the pros and cons of any med w/HOW you'd come out for the long run? It is all a trade off. Wish I could be more encouraging? But Bryianna is a superb resource!
OH and Silverlady [Billye] recommended Biotene drops or spray - it's an 'acquired taste'? But it does work! I use it all the time, and a little bit goes a long way! When I mention it to my dental techs? They go 'Oh yes!' we recommend it all the time...but never once to me? Go figger...
Hugs and better luck! PLEASE. When you have PN? You do NOT do well sitting for a couple of hours in a dental chair! Suddenly you CREAK! I hate that in public most of all! - j :hug::hug::hug:'s

For dry mucous membranes, usually associated with Sjograns, my Rheumatologist prescribed Evoxac (Cevimeline HCL). I do not have Sj antibody, but do have quite a degree of dryness.

I am still ramping up to 3 pills/day, but have already noticed a difference with moisture in my mouth and eyes. Perhaps 3 pills/day may be too much. I may be leaking all over :rain: if that is the case.

Perhaps your PCP may prescribe this if you are suffering from dryness. Have you been tested for sjogrens? It can happen in males. Wish you the best...

Mere

Hey, Bob!....

I've been going back to my grapeseed extract, after being reminded of it by another member here. I used to use it during allergy season mostly.

So I have been taking it starting at 100mg a day for a week, and now I am on 200mg a day... and my painful feet, which have been worse than usual with this weather, are MUCH better!

Today I decided to do a PubMed search on it, to see what new papers have accumulated there since my last visit, on this subject and found a TOOTH link. You may find this helpful

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...&ordinalpos=21
There are many new papers from 2009 in PubMed, using the simple keyword search "grape seed extract"... some regarding teeth, collagen and reducing inflammation from insulin resistance and diabetes II. All of them used high dose at least 300mg a day or more.
This looks very promising for PNers here with combined inflammation, diabetes and chronic PN pain!

Hmmmmmm !??

Lyrica Causes MAJOR teeth problems
 

After being on Lyrica for SEVEN months, I had to have NINE root canals, one implant and all of my front teeth capped.

Before Lyrica, I wore orthodontia, for five years. I took very good care of my teeth. Immediately before starting Lyrica, I went to the dentist and my teeth were fine.

They ONLY change made, was my Doctor placed me on Lyrica. I weighed 165 pounds. After seven months, I weighed 260 pounds and lost most of my teeth. So far, I have paid 25K dollars in temporary, restorative dentistry. I am now moving on to my final steps, which will cost another 25K dollars!

Lyrica is a terrible, terrible medication. Beware of taking it and be sure you do the research on all of the other people having horrible side effects of Lyrica. Pfizer is going DOWN!

That is HORRIBLE!

I did a search and found some others reporting the same thing!
But this side effect is not commonly found on Patientsville.com
The ones I saw on Peoples' Pharmacy were ANGRY and severely affected though.

Nothing on PubMed either.

Not many people on askapatient.com either.

Perhaps there is some connection to only certain people?
Some other common factor that happens when Lyrica is present?

Perhaps we will see others from Google coming to this thread!
It is a horrible thing to deal with..loss of teeth like that!

Thank you so much for doing your research! After my bad experience, I have been all over the Internet and have found that Pfizer released this drug, using the general population as the test group.

There is so much information about Lyrica and defective teeth, but you really have to search. Many people never connect the dots and think that their teeth are bad for some other reason.

I have found that when you ask a few questions and find out when they started using Lyrica, a light bulb comes on in their head.

I read about this woman, who was on Lyrica for about nine months and said that there were no signs of damage, until her teeth just started to crack and fall out of her mouth.

That is what my Endodontist said. He called it "Disease X", because the teeth seemed normal, until he started drilling. Then he told me, it was like drilling into an empty eggshell.

It has truly ruined my life. I am in Public Relations and if I show up at a corporate meeting, looking like a Meth-addict, it's not a good thing. I have lost 55 pounds, so that is getting under control, but I still have to spend another 25K to finish the dental restoration.

Thanks again for your concern and your research. If you keep digging, you will see how people blame their dental problems on "other" things, rather than Lyrica.

Take care.

toniolarabi,
I'm sorry for all your problems. I have been taking Lyrica for 3 years (and neurontin for 7 yrs before that). This dental problem (actually periodontal) has only been within the last year, and I had previous perio problems in the past..If you could provide some links about the Lyrica/dental problem relationship, to spare us (me) the frustration of futile digging and wasted time, it would be truly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for your help

Bob B: I found this on google.com:

http://www.google.com/webhp?complete...f43777e436a6c1

Not very informative but if you check all the "hits" there may be some useful info.

Thanks Dan, but there's not much there to bite into :cool:
(pun intended !)
Unless I can find something (many things) definitive, its just a case of happenstance :confused: and individual circumstantial occurrences.
A few on a soapbox does not clean the clothes :eek:;):wink:
(Do I like trite sayings? :winky::cool::) I do, I do!).

I personally think it is a combination of things...

Low Vit D... dry mouth, poor calcium intake, low antioxidant values, low Vit C. etc.

Periodontal disease seems to strike certain people and spare others. Sometimes I think it is the simple fact of pH of the saliva.
My dentist told me once, there are people who make tons of tartar and others make little. It all has to do with the pH of the saliva. I am in the low tartar group, luckily.

I know you don't want to hear this but..... smoking is a huge factor. (sorry)

Mrs D.
Don't be sorry - I know I'll be stopping smoking vey soon.
I have an appt with my PCP about it on the 30th of this month.
I just think I'll need some form of help (chantrix?) and am in the process
of convincing my wife to stop smoking. don't think I can do it
with her smoking, too.
I always have been in the medium tartar producing level.
Not heavy, but enough to have to fight it.
Smoking doesn't help that area, either.
I'm just not so sure about the Lyrica or Neurontin relationship.
I can't find anything definitve, but will ask my periodontist about it.

Just got back from the perio exam. Took full mouth xrays (should get a 1/2 off discount as there are only 50% of my teeth left heh.. in my dreams ! :( )
Scheduled on 3/25 for laser surgery and graft on most problematic quadrant to try to save a few molars.:mad:
I'm not as sure about going farther than that with any add'l surgery.:cool:
He'll give me a better idea about what he can do after he's looked at the x-rays in detail .... by my next visit. :confused:
We'll see. :eek:
I'm not gonna go thru what I went thru last time,
but will take a gamble & see if this one quadrant can be helped. :rolleyes:

BTW it'll be $1425 after a discount (20% on part of it :cool:) savings of $325 by joining the Careington dental plan for $7 a month. Its not a dental insurance, but a discount plan.
The AARP dental ins. is $52 a month and would pay for 50%, butwith a $1500 cap- per year (then 100%) and a deductible, that's basically a trade-off cause my problems will be waaay over the $1500 per year :eek:
My Medicare Part D, Rx plan is only $40 a month :cool: and saves me over $250 a month ($3K/yr) in Rx's.

Speechless
 

:yikes:

PLEASE let me know more about this!! At the moment I'm reduced to having to use my son's school laptop, so can't really surf the web....

I took Lyrica approx 8 mo. and it was a horrible experience.
I've finally lost the 30 lbs i gained while on it. BUT I have never had any dental issues whatsoever.
Teeth were fine B4 Lyrica.
NOW I'm having to get 2 extractions and trying to salvage a 3rd one.
However, I can't get any major dental work done for 6 wks because i've recently had a surgery and post op restrictions say dental work (even if on antibiotics) is too big a risk for infection until 6 wks of healing.
!!!! By this time, my 3rd tooth may be a lost cause!

It'll be hard to prove the Lyrica is the culprit tho. My teeth were perfectly fine while on the other meds (that caused dry mouth)......but coincidence or not, I'm VERY concerned about this Lyrica Theory. ! IF there is a law-suit I would love to at least have the thread of hope that perhaps I could get reimbursed the $6K in dental costs.

I know in my heart Lyrica did me bad......but lawsuits don't look at people's 'hearts'.....

Check out our dear Bryianna in the Dental forums!
 

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum89.html
She's been a rock for me and will likely be able to help you too, along w/Mrs D. They both come to similar conclusions but from different directions.
Both smart and wise in their fields.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Worst that can happen is a 'DUH?'.
Keep at it! - j