Hello Rchurch

Put your mind at rest after 12 years the blood vessels that were destroyed during radiotherapy and put you at risk of osteoradionecrosis of the jaw will have recovered sufficiently enough that tooth extraction should not be a problem. I had radiotherapy to the jaw 11 years ago and very recently had a tooth extracted. I am currently on immunotherapy and Denosumab which carries its own risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw. As a precaution the denosumab was stopped for a few months and I was referred by my dentist to the hospital for the extraction. I was given a course of antibiotics and mouthwash to use and a check up one month later. The extraction site is healthy and Ive had no problems since. Id trust your highly qualified dentists opinion over stuff on the internet. 

Ed

Thank you, Ed. I appreciate your reply. A few words really do help.

Thankyou, Ed. I appreciate your response. A few words really do help.

ONR is a terrifying prospect and you are rightly concerned. I was relieved to hear the dental surgeon at the hospital corroborate what my dentist had said about the low risk of ONR due to the amount of time elapsed since radiotherapy. In my case it was the Denosumab used to help protect preserve bone with cancer that was the concern rather than radiotherapy. Perhaps discuss with your denist whether antibiotics and mouthwash would be useful. Getting referred to an NHS hospital also saved me the £200 dentist bill but Iam now faced with a bill for £1500 for a new denture. Glad I could allay some of your fears. All the best

Ed

Thankyou.

Hello Rchurch and thank you for getting in touch.

I’m sorry to hear that you needed treatment for head and neck cancer in the past, and that you’re now feeling worried about the effect this may have on your jaw. It’s completely understandable to feel concerned about this.

It’s reassuring that your dentist feels that having further teeth extractions should be safe for you. While there is a risk of osteoradionecrosis (ORN) after radiotherapy to the head and neck, most people do not develop this. The risk is generally higher in the first few years after treatment, and although it doesn’t disappear completely, it is usually much lower many years later, such as in your situation.

Dentists and doctors will always weigh up the benefits and risks before recommending treatment like a tooth extraction. They will consider your individual treatment history, the area that received radiotherapy, and your current dental health when making this decision.

It may help to speak with your dentist again about your concerns. You could ask whether they have experience managing patients who have had radiotherapy, and whether any additional precautions are needed in your case. In some situations, dentists may also liaise with a specialist team if needed.

I hope everything goes smoothly with your treatment. If you have any further questions or would like to talk things through, you’re very welcome to contact one of our nurses on the helpline. We’re here Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, on freephone 0808 800 4040.

Jemma

That's not true,my husband had surgery radiotherapy and chemotherapy 20 years ago, recently had 3 teeth removed. The bone is breaking up and coming out of his gums and they've just found cancer in the space where the tooth was removed. 

My husband ad radiotherapy surgery and chemotherapy 20 years ago and is only now experiencing bone coming out of his gums from osteonecrosis.