Dental problems after chemotherapy & radiation
Has anyone experienced dental problems after undergoing chemo & radiation? My
treatments after a lumpectomy last year were chemo & radiation which took most of
2008. This year, I am having problems with infections under root canals and crowns and will have to have 2 of these extracted. I'm wondering if the treatments caused any of this?
Uld, yes, the chemo could have contributed to your dental problems. This post on Chemo and Your Teeth explains why it's a good idea to see a dentist before chemo starts. It's too late at this point to help you, but you can pass the word along to other people you know getting ready to start chemo about how important it is to see a dentist. Do keep in mind, however, that you might have needed these procedures even without chemo, and without the treatments, you might not have been around to have trouble with your teeth.
- Thank you for your input
- Ranked Helpful (2)
- Report Abuse
Yes. I was diagnosed in 2007, had lumpectomy then chemotherapy, then Herceptin for 12 months. After completing all this treatment in February of this year I need three root canals. Have had one and two to go.
- Thank you for your input
- Ranked Helpful (2)
- Report Abuse
I have had trouble after Chemotherapy also with my teeth. They are splintering and chipping on a constant basis. I am going to see my primary care doctor to talk to him about the possibility of medical coverage to cover the damage done by cancer and cancer treatments on my teeth and gums and lack of saliva. I am down to 1 molar to chew on and many missing teeth.
- Thank you for your input
- Ranked Helpful (1)
- Report Abuse
PJ Hamel
Sunday, November 08, 2009 at 08:11 PM














Good luck with the insurance coverage, Linda - the last thing we need, battling cancer, is money/insurance issues on top of that... PJH