ADRSupport Community  

Go Back   ADRSupport Community > General Discussion > The Big File

The Big File All issues not easily categorized in the above forums are here. Comments on general health, diet, "getting comfortable," and more are here.


Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 02-19-2007, 01:25 PM
blondyk blondyk is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 8
Default

Eversince I have been on pain meds, my dental health has gone drastically downhill.
Prior to being on Oxycontin, I did not have many cavities or dental problems. Since then I have cracked teeth, very deep cavities(in a very short amount of time) which have resulted in extractions and dental implants. Now I have 2 more teeth with problems. My dentist asked me the question if it could have a connection with my pain meds. Anybody know????
Blessings,
Kris
__________________
Had surg in Bogen May 5, 2006 with Dr. B. Having ADR at C4,5. Had C5,6 and C6,7 previous fusions.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-19-2007, 03:35 PM
Harrison's Avatar
Harrison Harrison is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,010
Default

Just my two cents, but my latest thinking is that some patients who seem susceptible to multi-level degenerative disc disease have “other things” going on that may be upsetting their metabolic processes; e.g. bone growth (including teeth). One question I’ve been gnawing on (pun intended) is the possible connection between chronic inflammatory disease(s) and DDD.

Looking at this issue another way, we’ve talked about the critical role of good oral hygiene in all aspects of one’s health. More articles are coming out regarding inflammation in the body and its possible link to poor dental hygiene. Some professionals suggest the causes are cavities (providing a path to the bloodstream), others suggest specific pathogens in the gums. Time will tell.

But back to the meds. What could be the role of the chemicals relative to dental decay?

I followed a few links from here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxycodone to the FDA, but couldn’t really find much in the way of possible side effects that would link to osteoporosis conditions.

Sorry I couldn’t help more, but please keep us posted on what you learn along the way….
__________________
"Harrison" - info (at) adrsupport.org
Fell on my ***winter 2003, Canceled fusion April 6 2004
Reborn June 25th, 2004, L5-S1 ADR Charite in Boston
Founder & moderator of ADRSupport - 2004
Founder Arthroplasty Patient Foundation a 501(c)(3) - 2006
Creator & producer, Why Am I Still Sick? - 2012
Donate www.arthropatient.org/about/donate
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-19-2007, 04:23 PM
blondyk blondyk is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 8
Default

Thanks for the prompt reply Harrison. At first I thought that my dental issues were due to taking high doses of anti-inflammatory. My first dentist suggested maybe "dry mouth" could be a side effect of drugs and cause a host of problems. But the only thing I have been taking is Oxycontin now.
Were you saying that the inflammation in other parts of the body(ie spinal) could have effect in other places?? Not sure I understood this.
However, my dentist has been puzzled because my oral habits have always been excellent with little reason for rapid decline in teeth.
Maybe I should find a dental website and ask them???????
Blessings,
Kris
__________________
Had surg in Bogen May 5, 2006 with Dr. B. Having ADR at C4,5. Had C5,6 and C6,7 previous fusions.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-19-2007, 04:54 PM
Justin Justin is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 954
Default

Quote:
My first dentist suggested maybe "dry mouth" and cause a host of problems. But the only thing I have been taking is Oxycontin now.
Dry mouth is, in fact, a side effect of OxyContin.

Why Is Dry Mouth a Problem?

Besides causing the aggravating symptoms mentioned above, dry mouth also increases a person's risk of gingivitis (gum disease), tooth decay, and mouth infections, such as thrush.

Source: WedMD Article

Justin
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-19-2007, 05:03 PM
Terry's Avatar
Terry Terry is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,210
Default

Good Call Justin! Certainly explains alot.

Terry Newton
__________________
1980 ruptured L4-L5
1988 ruptured SI-L5
1990 ruptured C5-C6
1994 ruptured C6-C7
1995 Hemi-Laminectomy C5-C6, C6-C7 Mayo Clinic
Bicycle Accident 2004
MRI, EMG, Facet Injections, Epidural Blocks, Lumbar Discogram.
Stenum Hospital Surgery November 4, 2006
Prestige Disc C5-C6, C6-C7
Maverick Disc S1-L5, L4-L5
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-20-2007, 03:07 PM
blondyk blondyk is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 8
Default

Terry and Justin:
Thanks for your imput. The Dry mouth really may be the culprit. But what do we do to prevent it??
Blessings,
Kris
__________________
Had surg in Bogen May 5, 2006 with Dr. B. Having ADR at C4,5. Had C5,6 and C6,7 previous fusions.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-20-2007, 03:32 PM
Terry's Avatar
Terry Terry is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,210
Default

Kris:

If you click on Justin's post where it says; "Source: WebMD Article", it offers some treatment suggestions.

Terry Newton
__________________
1980 ruptured L4-L5
1988 ruptured SI-L5
1990 ruptured C5-C6
1994 ruptured C6-C7
1995 Hemi-Laminectomy C5-C6, C6-C7 Mayo Clinic
Bicycle Accident 2004
MRI, EMG, Facet Injections, Epidural Blocks, Lumbar Discogram.
Stenum Hospital Surgery November 4, 2006
Prestige Disc C5-C6, C6-C7
Maverick Disc S1-L5, L4-L5
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-20-2007, 06:07 PM
annapurna annapurna is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,668
Default

For a much more simplistic answer, if you are sleeping with a little bit of uncontrolled pain could that be leading to grinding of your teeth in your sleep?

Do you use a bite guard at night?
__________________
Laura - L5S1 Charitee
C5/6 and 6/7 Prodisc C
Facet problems L4-S1
General joint hypermobility

Jim - C4/5, C5/6, L4/5 disk bulges and facet damage, L4/5 disk tears, currently using regenerative medicine to address

"There are many Annapurnas in the lives of men" Maurice Herzog
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:53 PM.


© Copyright 2006-2023 ADRSupport.org All rights reserved.