Alto - thanks for your post re:root canal fillings…interesting that none of your 3 have caused you any problems so far (touchwood!)…sorry to hear about your broken tooth.
I would really appreciate if you could post if you do get any problems with your root canal fillings after your final Tax. I’m taking legal advice on my dental situation and would like to be able to say Tax does not necessarily cause tooth abscess but -as in my case - the broken dental instrument left behind was more likely the cause.
Dental problems - who needs 'em (especially with no financial help!)…as if we all haven’t got enough to contend with at the moment…sigh!! :o/
Hi, I wasn’t told either and def no exemptions. I didn’t pay for sripts anyway as I’m over 60, but I have to pay full wack at the dentist. fortunatly, I am in HSA so I get 50% back. i have a root canal but no probs with that. I have been back to my dentist today and he has put a new filling in the back molar that was giving probs-so far so good.
Carol
Yes, no reductions on dental costs and I agree it’s really not fair seeing as it’s known that chemo affects your teeth. However if you have your five year exemption card it does cover you for prescriptions from the dentist. I know, because I’ve done it! Make sure they know you’ve got it because sometimes they can sell you something that they could also have prescribed so you’d get it free.
I’m at the dentist tomorrow to sort out my broken tooth and to have a chat about my impacted wisdom tooth.
Not looking forward to it
My dentist prescribes mouthwash so I can get it free but have had to pay for all treatment so far.
Wishing us all strong healthy teeth
I’m really interested (and sorry) to know that others are having dental problems and often related to root canal fillings. When I was first diagnosed with BC last April I found there might be a link between breast cancer and root canals due to focal infection in most root canals that can trigger breast cancer. My dentist was brilliant and followed up on queries as he’d heard about this possibility in the 1990’s - he passed on lots of research info to me and we came to the conclusion that “the jury is out on the issue” but since I’ve loads of root canals I’m still following up on the issue - and am thinking I will get them removed once chemo is finished to remove this possible risk factor (joy of joys having them removed after pain of having them done…). Has anyone else researched this possible link?
I know a biological doctor in Switzerland starts with treating root canals before any other treatments for cancer etc and other medical professionals treat this issue very seriously too.
Seems that mercury fillings could also be reducing our bodies abilities to control cancer growth - anyone researched that or acted on info themselves?
Francesw - that is really interesting about the possible link between root canals and bc. What’s ‘focal infection’ that you mention? Is it something dormant and only activated if root canals are filled? I’d be keen to hear any other info you have. Also, if you have your root canals removed, does that mean you lose the tooth? (silly ? maybe!). Plus when you say about the doctor in Switzerland treating root canals before cancer treatments, does that mean he removes them or does something other than standard fillings?
Re: amalgam fillings - I remember reading somewhere a while ago that it could be dangerous to have them removed if you’ve already got them as it disturbs the mercury…I always have white composites now but have still got a couple of silver ones from years ago(which I’m leaving well alone!!).
And finally ;oD - who ever thought that a cancer diagnosis would put a strain on our finances because of visits to the dentist!?!
There definitely should be an exemption for cancer patients as it seems more than a coincidence that many of us need dental work…letter to Minister of Health perhaps? We could start our own campaign LOL
This is an abstract summarising ideas about root canals and other illnesses:
"
Int Endod J. 2000 Jan;33(1):1-18.
Root canal treatment and general health: a review of the literature.
Murray CA, Saunders WP.
University of Glasgow Dental School, Glasgow, UK.
Abstract
REVIEW: The focal infection theory was prominent in the medical literature during the early 1900s and curtailed the progress of endodontics. This theory proposed that microorganisms, or their toxins, arising from a focus of circumscribed infection within a tissue could disseminate systemically, resulting in the initiation or exacerbation of systemic illness or the damage of a distant tissue site. For example, during the focal infection era rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was identified as having a close relationship with dental health. The theory was eventually discredited because there was only anecdotal evidence to support its claims and few scientifically controlled studies. There has been a renewed interest in the influence that foci of infection within the oral tissues may have on general health. Some current research suggests a possible relationship between dental health and cardiovascular disease and published case reports have cited dental sources as causes for several systemic illnesses. Improved laboratory procedures employing sophisticated molecular biological techniques and enhanced culturing techniques have allowed researchers to confirm that bacteria recovered from the peripheral blood during root canal treatment originated in the root canal. It has been suggested that the bacteraemia, or the associated bacterial endotoxins, subsequent to root canal treatment, may cause potential systemic complications. Further research is required, however, using current sampling and laboratory methods from scientifically controlled population groups to determine if a significant relationship between general health and periradicular infection exists."
I’ve another link to a summary of research but need to go onto other computer to access it… Seems the research has not been carried on to prove a link but that does not mean there is not one - the head of enthododontics (root canal treatments) in America was thrown out of his role for even considering such an idea due to strength of opposition by dentists (I have my suspicions as to why they objected!)
It’s the Paracelsus Clinic run by Thomas Rau M.D. that has a strong focus of dental work and treatments - you will find info on the web about his clinic, treatments and book.
I’ve read of others with this strong belief in the possible link between root canals and cancer - seems it’s the tiny capillaries that are in the root canal that can’t ever be completely cleared out that can harbour infection that “flies” off to other parts of the body (like secondary cancer does).
Yes, have considered redoing my mercury amalgams since I had chronic fatique for many years pre-BC and there is a strong link in relation to low immunity- my understanding is that they do have to be removed very carefully to avoid inhilation and preferably by a holistic dentist.
Would fully support campaign to get dental exemption since pregnant women do on the grounds on hormonal changes and increased need for dental treatment (I know I had to go lots of times when pregnant).
Good luck to anyone who’s been to the dentist today…
Root canal treatment and general health: a review of the literature. Murray CA, Saunders WP.
Focal infection: a new perspective on an old theory. Goymerac B, Woollard G.
The focal infection theory: appraisal and reappraisal. Pallasch TJ, Wahl MJ.
These are three main studies - you have to access them through the BDA though…
evening all , we certainly seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet at the moment. dental care a must and no help with costs. not such a bad idea starting a campaign. bit of research needed to fully establish links to chemo/ cancer treatment and increased tooth decay. will be quizing my dentist next week and oncology team at first opportunity. its definately not fair or just that after all the trauma and stress of diagnosis and treatment we are hit in the pocket to repair the damage done. so to add to the mastectomys, the scars, the implants, loss of hair, the weight gain, the fatigue and the indignity of it all we also have to endure increased tooth decay. life can only get better?? xxx
Hello…My teeth get yellowish and brownish and it feels me very embarrassing and it also lose my confidence. I am here looking for best teeth whitening product which has no any side effect and also easy to use.
hi just read some of your notes i think i might just have a mouth ulcer if it was a abycess it would swell up.ihave to have all my dentistry at the hospital so they can keep a eye on your bloods .will be having a word with my chemo nurse on wednesday. fec3.and see what she has to say.
was ment to be having a bridge before all this started but no time to fit it in (dentsit on holiday then sick)use difflem 3 times a day and brush teeth with baby tooth brush after each meal.hope all goes well
queenie xxx
Its been a long time since I posted and thankfully I’m doing well at the moment and back at work 4 days a week.
I came across this article and just had to re-post it:…
"There may also be a cancer connection. Dr. Robert Jones, a researcher of the relationship between root canals and breast cancer, found an extremely high correlation between root canals and breast cancer. He claims to have found the following correlations in a five-year study of 300 breast cancer cases:
93 percent of women with breast cancer had root canals
7 percent had other oral pathology
Tumors, in the majority of cases, occurred on the same side of the body as the root canal(s) or other oral pathology
Dr. Jones claims that toxins from the bacteria in an infected tooth or jawbone are able to inhibit the proteins that suppress tumor development. A German physician reported similar findings. Dr. Josef Issels reported that, in his 40 years of treating “terminal” cancer patients, 97 percent of his cancer patients had root canals. If these physicians are correct, the cure for cancer may be as simple as having a tooth pulled, then rebuilding your immune system.
Can I just say my root canal was on my right as was my primary bc and from what i remember (I could be wrong but it’s difficult to verify this info now)my sister had root canal treatment on her left side and her primary was left side…be interesting to hear if anyone else has similar stories.
Very interesting Heather202.
I have had a number of root canals in recent years, all on my left hand side and I was dx with BC on my left side after a routine mammo. I had DCIS rather than a tumour but it was widespread requiring an mx.
Interestingly, after my SLNB before Xmas I developed raging toothache on my left side resulting in me needing 2 root canal treatments (1 was to re-do a previous treatment). My surgeon postponed my mx and had lengthy discussions with my dentist on how and when to treat me as he said that a mouth infection is the worst and could have put me at serious risk of septicaemia after the mx, especially as I was having an implant that my body could reject.
I did ask my surgeon if he thought there was any link as the BC and teeth issues all on my left side but he felt it was a coincidence.
Makes you wonder though !!!
Would also be I terested to hear if others have had similar issues.
L x
Interesting reading.
I have had root canal treatment on both sides of my mouth. Lost a tooth on the right side when going through chemo. My BC was on the left side.
Thanks for your experiences ragamuffin & lelly61 - It certainly does make you wonder??!..After seeing a top endontologist who could have saved my inflammed root-treated tooth(during FEC-T no.6- I think i explained my saga in previous posts) but with a low success rate I opted to have it extracted. After reading the article I’m glad I did. This could be one of the areas in the future where a connection could be made to bc?? I know I’ve read that gum disease/gingivitis is linked to heart disease so there is a logic to the theory that there could be a cancer link with root-canal treated teeth too… teeth/gums are such an important part of general health and wellbeing but doctors tend to overlook them when dealing with the body in general(cancer type illnesses etc) and leave it to dentists and there’s not much of a crossover between the two.
Its typical that your surgeon just quoted ‘coincidence’ lelly, I think many medics are very blinkered in their opinions and it really is down to us to do alot of background research to help ourselves once we’ve left the production line in hospital!
Would either of you consider having your remaining root-canal treated teeth removed in light of this??
