This might not be relevant to lupus but I do value your inputs.
My dentist found I have chronic apical abscess (lupus induced?) and suggested root canal treatment (RCT). However I googled about RCT. It turns out quite a few dentists are against RCT for bacterial infected tooth reason being there are too many nerves for one tooth, chance is high that infected nerve may not be removed thoroughly during RCT. The bacterial left inside the tooth will turn into even more toxic anearobic bacterial and secrete toxin into blood stream. As a lupie, I cannot afford constant bacterial toxin in my body. So shall I listen to doctor to do RCT or just extract the infected tooth?
I am outside US living in Singapore. Most material/paper I found against RCT are from western countries. Not sure how you guys deal with such dilemma. I already consulted for 2nd opinion but same advice.
I am 46 and have had trouble with my teeth since a car wreck in 1998 I had rct and have had all my top teeth pulled in the last year. My dentist says my problems are related to lupus. If I had it all to do over I would have had them pulled to start with. I hope things go well for you.
Pull them out.....I too have drama with my teeth and have pulled most of them out......I feel better.....the swelling is less...its cheaper....you can eat anything if you cut it up small....good luck
I am not a dentist but I am thinking that you shouldn’t have any type of dental surgery (or any surgery) when you have an active infection. That scares me. I don’t know much about rct but I know the pain of a root canal, having had one when I was in college. After the root canal, it got infected and abscesses and required more surgery. It was about the worst pain I have ever felt (other than a kidney stone) and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. If it is a tooth you can live without,like in the back, I would just pull it. Good luck.
I worked with a holistic dentist to do a full revision and it has helped if not put my symptoms in remission.
the mouth is the origin of most disease.
Pulling is good but you need the right dentist to do it... if not, it will leave a cavitation and more of those bad bacteria to deal with. When will you be back in the US?
I am living proof that this is a major cause of disease in general. I had a dental graft that my DDS believes caused my Lyme Disease. Most dentists have no idea of the issues this could cause.
I am not familiar with where you are or if My DDS could try to find someone in your area... I know he works with the lead holistic DDS in the country so if you think he might be able please reach out.
Purplebutterfly: Question - they have not given me a firm diagnosis of Lupus yet .. neg ANA, however, other symptoms, etc. I have had issues with my teeth since my 20's (now 52) .. most of my gums have receded and I have had multiple teeth pulled as well as root canals prior to pulling, etc. Could this be from Lupus? How would I find out if this is caused by Lupus? The receeding teeth start with extreme pain over one or more teeth (like an abcess), swell and eventually when the swelling and pain is gone, the tooth is more exposed .. I know this is not a pleasant subject, but I am new to all of this and just thought I have always had terrible teeth. As I look back over the last 20 years, I have so many of the Lupus "symptoms" ... just never put anything together as nothing happened all at one time.... Thank you! Dee
purplebutterfly said:
I am 46 and have had trouble with my teeth since a car wreck in 1998 I had rct and have had all my top teeth pulled in the last year. My dentist says my problems are related to lupus. If I had it all to do over I would have had them pulled to start with. I hope things go well for you.
Lori - Could I contact your dentist to see if they know of anyone in Central Florida area that would be familiar with Lupus/Autoimmune diseases and their effect on teeth? Thank you! Dee
Lulu said:
Hi,
I worked with a holistic dentist to do a full revision and it has helped if not put my symptoms in remission.
the mouth is the origin of most disease.
Pulling is good but you need the right dentist to do it... if not, it will leave a cavitation and more of those bad bacteria to deal with. When will you be back in the US?
I am living proof that this is a major cause of disease in general. I had a dental graft that my DDS believes caused my Lyme Disease. Most dentists have no idea of the issues this could cause.
I am not familiar with where you are or if My DDS could try to find someone in your area... I know he works with the lead holistic DDS in the country so if you think he might be able please reach out.
I had chronic dental abscesses starting within a year or two of when I was first diagnosed with fibro 15 years ago, and have had them constantly since. (Before I got sick, I had almost perfect teeth.) Before I had dental insurance (after I lost my job, & before my hubs got his) I couldn’t afford the RCT’s and had several teeth pulled - mostly molars and all on the same side, which really affected my chewing & aggravated my TMJ. Since I’ve had insurance, my dentist has been fighting one abcess after another with me, I’ve had so many RCT’s I’ve lost count, and nothing we’ve done had seemed to slow it down. This spring I had 4 abscesses at once, but was so run down recovering from pneumonia we couldn’t even get the RCT’s done - Catch-22! It’s interesting that they’ve found a connection between recurring abscesses & lupus: I have always blamed mine -as has the dentist - on the chronic dry mouth the meds cause. But I’ve suspected lupus from day one, and got my diagnosis three years ago after years of drs. waffling back & forth about it. The chronic dental issues would be yet another bit to make the big picture make a little more sense.
Because we just couldn’t seem to ever get it under control, and because of the health risks (especially heart issues) associated with this kind of dental problems, my dentist and I decided this spring that it was time to take definitive action. It was choosing The lesser of two evils, but I decided to have all my top teeth pulled and I’m having 4 implants put in for a semipermanent device - kind of a full bridge- that clips to the implants. I had the first surgery a couple of months ago: I’m now having to live with this temporary denture, and having to live with it has totally convinced me that I made the right decision. I could never stand to have to deal with this regular denture on a permanent basis - it’s driving me nuts. (Although anything is better than going around with active abscesses all the time! This method costs more, my insurance is only covering some of it. But I’m very lucky that my mom offered to give me any money I couldn’t pay - she figured as her only child, I’d inherit it eventually, and said she’d much rather see me use it now on something like this that REALLY need, a quality of life kind of thing. Oh, and another nice thing about what I’m getting versus regular dentures is you don’t the bone loss in your jaw you get from having all the teeth pulled and getting dentures - the implants somehow help with that.
I hope you can get your situation resolved somehow, and soon! I know how aggravating it is, plus it makes it hard to eat properly, and just becomes a real drain on your overall health ! Keep us posted. (Btw, if no one’s mentioned it, Dental Schools are often a great place to find quality care at much lower prices.) best of luck, and hugs!
I had a root canal back in March and the deep clean plaining done,than I had I permant brace put behind my lower front teeth to hold 4 of them in…I have been in a full blow lupus attack,just sick,weak,than I went to Hawaii and came home and had cancer surgery,a mole in a very bad spot turned cancer,growing sub dermal…from the inside out,and than I crashed my new Kia soul into a ford explorer,totally my fault…need less to say,I’ve had some serious bad luck,…back to the teeth,it seems like every time I’ve ever had any kind of dental work,even my teeth cleansed,I have gotten sick for weeks at a time,weird,but true…that is why I put off any kind of dental work…is their a reason for this?? Does any one else have this happen to them.???
No Ann I’ve never done antibiotics before any work at the dentist is done,they know I have heart problems,and I told them I always get sick,one time I had a filling done in a back tooth,I couldn’t open my mouth for a couple days…strange…
I can say this that as lupus person you must be extra cautious at the dentist. Make sure they put on new gloves in front of you....too many walk in and you have no idea if they changed them without touching someone else.
If you do get root canal and already have infection they need to clear it up before starting the root canal...means 10 days of antibiotics. The dentist should also give your body to make sure all the infection is gone after removing all the roots...at least a week...so not all done in one day or in few days near one another. Dentist should use antibiotic rinse.
Root canals do not hurt..motrin or tylenol will handle the pain if done correctly. I am not sure what you have wrong...but anytime you are talking about losing a tooth make sure it is for a good reason. Sorry do not know more.
Just make sure infection is cleared up....before starting rc....bacteria can go to heart so not to take lightly...oh also use a dam entire time!
wish you speedy recovery! enjoy it over there..very beautiful i hear and I LOVE the food!!
My dentist has given my antibiotics before undergoing major dental work. I think you should request a round of antibiotics to clear the infection before any dental work. Note that many people with lupus have reactions to sulpha meds so you may want to avoid them.
I am currently and have been having major dental issues for the last 6 years, I believe they are related to my Sjogrens and the dry mouth and maybe the lupus. I brush 3x a day floss everyday and yet every time I go to the dentist I have lots of bad cavities! I have had a few root canals a couple of teeth pulled and fear I will loose them before age 35.
I also have a huge fear of the dentist as I have had some very bad flares after dental work. Before being diagnosed I was once admitted to hospital for an "unknown flu like illness" right after having a root canal, I know now that it was a flare. I know it is vein but the thought of loosing my teeth makes me feel very depressed.