Hi My Dear Friends,
I have to give my dental ins some proof that with rsd I need to have root canal/crowns done so my condition doesn't deteriorate further. I have suffered with mouth/gum pain and constant tooth decay for many years from rsd (along with heavy opioids too). I am especially looking for articles written from Dr. S or any others (I know my friend Michael is the best at this research). I have looked on the basic rsds sites and found basic letters about how to care for your teeth but I need more in-depth info. I know (as well as everyone here) that rsd and opioids cause severe (and expensive) tooth decay...but I just have to prove it to the dental ins now so they will pay for my root canal.
Thanks all,
kathy d

Be very careful with root canals. I unfortunately had a CRPS spread to my jaw after a root canal. I had not yet been diagnosed with CRPS. My dentist will be referring me to a local dental school should I require additional root canals, which will be done with appropriate pre surgery blocks. Please consult some of the literature regarding root canals and spread. A good place to start is Hooshmand's website.

Take Care!

Kathy -

Here's what I know, but I've heard it from so many sources, I believe it. With many people opioids/opiates block salivation and cause dry mouth. That in turn requires some extra care in dental hygiene, a point that I don't recall seeing in any pharmacy instructions, let alone having heard from any of the pain docs who treated me in the first year I had this. (But truth be told, I got lucky, where my natural tendency is to hypersalivate, hence all my life dentists have had extra work cut out for them in removing plaque from my lower incisors.)

But where this gets/got really nasty was with Fentanyl lollipops. Think of it: a strong narcotic literally bound to sugar! According to my neurologist, you were okay if and only if you thoroughly brushed every time you had one, which for most folks would have worked out to about 12 times a day. A good friend of mine who was no dummy but lacked the money for regular dental care - after her husband walked on her and the kids - would up loosing all of her teeth, eventually have the last few stragglers removed so that she could live in far greater comfort with dentures.

Again, I haven't researched it, but my understanding is that there is no direct connection between RSD/CRPS and tooth decay: it's what is termed an "epiphonological" relationship, they share only a common acquaintance. Narcotics.

And I totally agree with ballerina's comments about getting proper regional blockage. The work should/must be done by a competent oral surgeon who is familiar with regional anesthesia.

Good luck!

Mike