I am on Pamidronate (a bisphosphonate) and Xeloda. I need a filling in one tooth and I am experiencing pain in another. I wonder if it is an abscess. I have a dental appt on Friday. Does anyone know if it is ok to take antibiotics and have x-rays whilst on these drugs? I know that some extreme dental work requires the patient to come off of bisphosphonates, but I am hoping that won’t be necessary.
Ann x
Hi Ann, Having a filling is not problem if you have been on Biphosphonates. I also had a tooth capped. The prolem only starts if you needed to have a tooth extracted. If this needed to happen your dentist woud need to discuss it first with your Oncologist. This has happened to me. One tooth did need to be extracted because the root had cracked right down to the root. I have had no problems at all. The second tooth could be spared and my Oncologist preferred if my dentist just capped the tooth which he did. Both these procedures turned out well for me but I was in some state as I did not know at that point about the complications an extraction could bring.
Now I have another appointment at the dental hospital. I have a bit of exposed bone on the roof of my mouth and my dentist referred me to the dental hospital for a second opinion. But I think it is slowly getting better on its own now. I have had it for weeks and weeks so will just be like the thing for it to be gone when I go to the hospital!
The xrays are fine too. As are the antibiotics.
But if you do need an extraction in the future I would recommend that you go to the dental hospital as my dentist had troube extracting mine as the tooth kept crumbling.
I was worried sick when I fist heard of “necrosis of the jaw” BUT that is how I found the BCC site when I was francically looking for information about the possibe side effects. Hope this helps and isn’t just TOO MUCH information for you to deal with. All the best. Val
Thanks, Val. That’s really helpful. It dawned on me after I posted that x-rays must be ok because they keep giving us CT scans!
I hope your problem heals on its own and that you don’t need treatment, even if it is embarrassing when you go. I suppose you could cancel the appt.
Ann x
Hi Ann
Having just ‘survived’ 2 hours of root canal work this week I can tell you, as Val has, that anything other than extraction is OK on Bisphosphonates. I also have had a tooth out since being on Bondronat but had to be referred to the Maxillofacial unit at my local hospital to have this done. Luckily I didnt suffer any trauma to the jaw but didn’t want to risk it again with the tooth I’ve just had the work done on. I wish I had though as 2 hours and a lot of money later was not the nicest of experiences 
I can’t comment on the Xeloda aspect though.
Good luck and hope you are keeping well.
Nicky x
Hi Ann
Like Nicky I had a tooth extracted at the maxiofacial unit because I was on bisphos. The dentist there put in packing in the gum and dissolving stiches, I had not long completed chemo and she was worried about bleeding.The gum healed fine and I had no problems.My lovely dentist(even though I am an NHS patient) has just removed 2 of my old fillings and replaced them with more up to date fillings as he says that will prolong the life of my teeth, given that I cannot have exstractions.I axxm worried that 2 of my front teeth are a bit wobbly due to gum problems and not sure what the solution to that one will be.
Lxx
Thank you. Fortunately, I just needed two fillings, which I think I broke by clenching my teeth during the night, due to stress!
Ann x