Little saliva

[Elmijack15]

My husband had stage 4 head and neck cancer, tumor was in the very back of his throat but due to the radiation the majority of his saliva glands are gone, he has tried everything out there and nothing works. He sometimes has a hard time swallowing bread, needs to drink all the time. Now his front teeth are looking kind of see thru like they're getting thin. Are crowns, vaneers or implants best for him? He'll probably have to have all his teeth done. And as a side question should our health I insurance pick up some of the cost as this is due to a medical condition/radiation for cancer. I ask because dental insurance only covers like 2k a year which won't help much! Thank you for your help!!

[Elmijack15]

Thank you so much for your reply, as we really didn't know where to start looking.  He does see a regular dentist and gets cleanings three times a year now, but the dentist he uses hasn't really dealt with this before. Again, thank you!!

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Yes, your dental insurance probably won't cover much of the treatment that is necessary.  Unfortunately, now that he's lost his salivary glands, his mouth is extremely dry and more prone to gum disease and cavities.  Has he been seeing a dentist regularly?  Also, you may want to contact your local dental society to find a dentist who is comfortable treating your husband as he has a difficult case to manage.  Since radiation was used, its possible that the jaw bone is affected as well, resulting in poor healing.  If they remove any teeth, theres a risk of infection.  They'll probably try to keep his teeth and put him on a strict cleaning schedule.  

You may want to also find out if your health insurance will cover it.  Again, a dentist who is comfortable and has additional training or experience in this matter would be best.