Dental work while on tx?

[aquarius64]

yes, another question, i know... i had started a procedure to get dental implants a few months back. the teeth have been extracted. there are 2 steps left, implanting the screwthings and then adding the teeth. my dentist wants to put me out for the implant phase around beginning of feb. i am starting tx this week. since i'm 2b doing 24wks, should i just wait? i have been living w/o the 2 back teeth for 6 mo so that's not an issue. also, can you be knocked out on tx and take painkillers if needed? any imput would be appreciated. thanks

[sunspot]

I waited until I finished tx for the implants. I was knocked out for the extractions while on tx. As I was anemic, it was a hard road to hoe. The bleeding let out more blood than I could afford. I took Demerol for the pain (Mepergan Forte).
I must say, I'm glad I waited till after tx for the implants. The pain was somewhat heavy for 2 days, strong for 1 week and it was 1 month before I could eat anything harder than mush.
It was kind of if the doc used a nail gun to drive 16 penny nails in the roof of my mouth especially where the sinus canals comes down to the upper jaw, at #7 and 10 tooth.
Don't forget he will put you on antibiotics after the procedure.
If I forgot something, just ask.

Rev, where ya been?

[jmjm530]

I posed this question to a couple of doctors, both liver specialists. The consensus was that if it was an elective procdure to wait until I was non-detectible one year post treatment. At the time I posed the question, I had finished treating, so my case was different than yours. That said, I can't imagine them recommeding doing dental implants while treating.

I'm not a doctor nor dentist but from what I understand, it's the implant phase which is the most invasive. The second step is just putting in the crowns.

So depending on how important/timely it is to get these implants done, you could reasonably do the implant stage prior to treating, and wait a reasonable period thereafter for things to heal. Then either do the crowns during treatment, or wait until after. In any event, I believe you have to wait 4-6 months between the two step.
If you take this approach, you would probably have to delay treatment by weeks or longer depending on how long it takes for things to heal.

Alternatively, you could simply wait until you are either SVR or non-detectible one year post treatment as I'm doing. This would be my recommendation unless your dentist feels the implants cannot wait that long.

Should you decide to start the implants before or during treatment, one important issue to discuss with both your doctor and dentist is how will the interferon and peg affect the healing /seating process that must take place between the time the implants are put in and when the crowns will be installed. In discussing the implant issue with my NP, she suggested I wait because the bone tissue where the implants are installed may have softened from treatment. I imagine this would even be more of a problem during treatment.

Again, my doctor's advice resonated well with me -- if it's elective, wait until one year post treatment. If it's necessary, that's another story. BTW I had my teeth cleaned every 3 months during treatment, so my doctor's recommendations were quite specific to a tooth implant. I don't think they would have any problem with ordinary dental procedures such as a tooth filling or a crown during treatment.

All the best,

-- Jim

[ladybug52]

Dperry posted below that she had dental work, took pain killers and was very nauseous. I think you need to talk to both dr's before hand to see what the plan is if you need meds. Just to be prepared for the worst then you're not alone at 10 pm sick or in pain.
Bug

[aquarius64]

thanks. i guess i could see how i feel on tx first, maybe put it off for a while or until i'm done. i don't think i need any extra headaches. i always have bad luck and lots of pain when it comes to dental surgery. when he extracted the 2 molars, i had bone fragments for 1 1/2 mo. and was on pain pills for almost as long. it was nasty! anemia was an issue when i was pregnant, so i don't know if it carries over to other things as easy. perhaps i'll wait and see. i am just on pins and needles waiting for my meds to get here. my GI ordered them for me last fri knowing i wanted to start either tomorrow or thurs. how long do meds take to come? i'm antsy.

[dperry10]

OK.. I guess this is my turn on this one.  I just had all my upper teeth pulled out last tuesday , Jan 2, I started treatment the weekend of Xmas , so was on my 2nd week.  I had the same concerns.. should I wait to start treatment.  I spoke to both my PCP and my Gastro, and my bloodwork was fine, so they said there was no reason to delay starting treatment, and to go ahead with the dental work.   It did not increase the pain.  I have had others extracted before, and it was doable.  It was the pain meds that got to me though.  I was so sick, could not stop throwing up after just taking the 3rd pill for the day.. she told me to take them every 3.5 hours till they were all gone.. I think she must have been nuts.   Anyway.. it wasn't bleeding when I left the dentist.  But it was an upsetting day for me besides my teeth, I put my oldest dog down.  I was doing what my step daughter suggested.. to do it that day, since I would have the next day off to greive as well, instead of waiting another day, then have to go back to work.  She knew I would take it hard.. Well I never even thought, no Mike didn't get to say goodbye.  I was under the influence of drugs.. LOL and called the vet, and he came here and took care of it.   But because I was crying, and gagging from the new denture.. I was bleeding like crazy.  But I am ok now.  It still healing.. and its tuesday, and I feel fine as far as Tx and the dental work.  I think it maybe your dentist, who just doesn't want to chance coming in contact with your blood until you are cleared.  But for what they are doing, you could even just have laughing gas and be fine.  I do not think I would let them knock me out.  Just IMO .  You should be fine., just take something besides the pain pills after the 1st day anyway.

[BJ1fish]

I had an implant during tx without any problems.

[Kalio1]

A lot depends on your individual dental procedures being done. There are implants and there are implants, some require a lot more extensive work than others. Some require bone grafts, etc.
I spoke extensively on this issue with a specialist recently and was advised it would be better to do that type of very involved dental work after treatment ends. Typical dentistry, cavities,root canals, gum work,etc. I was told is fine. This is not to say you can't do it, but you want to be at your best healing level and on tx is not ideal.

You don't want any complications with implants, you don't want delayed healing either. It is also a pretty long process and tx is taxing enough as it is. I'd wait until you kick this virus and are off these drugs if you can.