Hi everyone,
I am a 48 year woman whose diagnosis was stage 2 breast cancer, HER2 Positive in 2022 and it did’nt spread. Completed 7 rounds of Chemo ECT with Herceptin & Pertuzumab, followed by a lumpectomy and then 4 weeks of radio. I then started 6 monthly IV intakes of Zoledronic acid - Zometa which I am on for 3 years. Currently had 3 hits of that. Also on Anastrozole for 5 years at 1mg daily.
Despite getting a dental clearance roughly 6 months ago I have been having on and off dental issues including muscular TMJ issues that I am improving with with exercises. I had a root canal treatment done on a lower back molar in october which healed well, in December I felt a crunch when I bite down and have been in on off pain ever since. I have had 2 xrays and tooth looks fine as like there is no evidence of infection. Last week got too much and I was in awful pain, I managed to get a maxillofacial scan at the hopsital and linked up to pain relief via iv. Jaw looks fine, and pain has since gone away but i still cannot bite down on the tooth. When speaking with the maxiilofacial team they suggested it should come out because of the discomfort as they suspect there is an hairline fracture in it. So, I have booked and paid for a private CBCT scan with the root canal specialists next week. Depending on the result I am at my wits end with worry that I remove one problem and create another. To say I am frightened at the possibility of getting this dreadful condition, my mental state with it all is being affected. I mean I get over cancer, eat well and weight train in the gym. All that has come to a stop for the past 2 months. I know that they say the odds are small something like 1% but I can’t find the odds if a tooth is extracted.
My local dentist referral to maxi got refused so I was literally begging crying for help at the doctors. Just don’t know which way to turn next week once I find out whats wrong with it, whether I pay again at another shot of root treatment but still can’t have it crowned until my uneven bite is sorted or take the leep and have it removed.
On another note the dentist suggested I see an orthodonist which I have a booked appointment for but when I told the hospital maxi about that, they were quite against it. I wish there was one source of experts readily available for people that had done the run and need help beyond their local dentist. Any advice or suggestions on this matter would really help. Many thanks, Sarah