Currently my rsd is out of control and in my entire left arm and I think starting to affect my right shoulder. I have a teeth cleaning appointment next week and was wondering if that could be at all risky.....I don't need any more problems. I don't know that it could affect me in any way but don't want to take any chances if that's the case I cn postpone it. I recently had an EMG which when the need
E was inserted in my upper arm it trigger shoulder pain that had never resolved.....I had never thought of that. So I'm just trying to cover my bases. Anyone have any experience? Thoughts?

I've never had an issue from a checkup or cleaning. I did experience spread when I had a root canal and bridge, then again on the other side with a root canal. (I don't know if it was something about the bridge or the root canal I had on the front tooth of the bridge that caused it, don't frankly care at this point.) I've had extensive work done after other medical issues left me with a mess to fix. Fortunately I'm done now. (or as done as I'm ever getting because I won't let someone bridge between two perfectly healthy teeth and there ain't no way someone is drilling a hole in my bones on purpose) I still get my regular checkups, but because I've already experienced spread into my face I am planning on taking a pain pill before my next checkup. Not because they've been painful in the past, but because the idea of someone touching my face and in my mouth is enough to make me cringe now.

Don't let fear stop you from getting a cleaning. Preventing the need for getting actual work done is the best thing you can do (imo, after my experiences) to keep there from being spread in the area. Just make sure you talk to the hygienist and the dentist before they touch you, explain the disease to them and the special care they must take not to cause physical harm while doing the cleaning. I'm not saying that it couldn't possibly cause spread, heck that can happen for any reason or no reason at all apparently. But better to make sure your teeth are in good health than to risk needing serious work done makes them need to drill or even worse, actually mess with your nerves on purpose as they have to in a root canal.

Regarding regular cleanings...those are usually fine...but if you need any sort of shots to numb up the area then I would skip it. I don't usually need the shots for a regular cleaning.

Root canals are the big no-no from what I have read and I have told my dentist that those will not be a possibility for me. As a result I have needed to have about 9 teeth pulled in the past year. Much better to pull them than risk spread with a root canal. I've had a bunch of bridge work done and for that they actually knock me out...I go to a sedation dentist and it has worked out wonderfully because I'm not aware of any discomfort or pain and they can get everything done in one visit vs multiple torture sessions.

However...while a cleaning is not usually something to worry about...if you are in the midst of a bad flare up I would probably reschedule the appointment. I know that when I am in a flare up it makes everything else more sensitive too...and I wouldn't want to put myself in a situation where something normally pretty safe could end up causing spread. Plus...sitting in that chair for a cleaning with an arm in a bad flare up...no thank you. At least...that's what I would do in your situation.

Thank you! I think I will reschedule for right after my nerve blocks in hopes that maybe I am in a better state just in case. I appreciate your advice and input. I'm sure three weeks won't make a huge difference to wait for a cleaning.