Dental Problems

[ukbadger]

Hi All,

Not posted for a while but hope everyone is doing ok on the run up to Christmas !? I'm suffering the after affects of some homemade lentil soup I made on Sunday - can barely sit down due to nappy rash lol

Anyway I have a question about the other end ... teeth ..

Anyone got any problems with teeth since Dx , I lost a tooth nearly two years ago which was a milk tooth (at 36 !) and since then due to gum disease etc the Dentist is refusing to replace it - it's really getting me down as I'm dating at the moment and feel so self conscious .. He also filed down to increase the gaps between my bottom teeth to aid cleaning - they look awful too !

My hygienist is great and encourages me to keep up reasonable oral hygiene , she seems to appreciate that it's often hard with a mouthfull of ulcers.

I just wondered if I could expect to be left with a permanent set of tombstone teeth ?

Just another joy of being a Crohnie !

Hayley

 

[Nica]

I am 37 and have bad bad teeth. I think its partially because of the prednisone for all those years, maybe partially because of not getting the vitamins your teeth need. Right now I need to have 2 crowns done, a BUNCH of cavities filled and some sort of periodontal cleaning. I had to have 2 teeth pulled this year as well. I am not amused at it either. Maybe look into a dental implant for the missing tooth up front? or a bridge or something? If your dentist refuses to do something about it and its bothering you go to another dentist. You shouldnt have to be embarassed of your teeth.

 

[HeatherMoon]

Wow, I was just wondering the same thing about teeth. I'm only 31 and my teeth are awful too. I've had one pulled a few years ago and 3 root canals. A tooth is also chipped next to one of my loose crowns (which needs to be repleced). I also think it's due to our bodies not getting the nutrients it needs and the prednisone sucks your body dry of calcium. I've thought of implants as well but $$$$. Yeah, we don't have money like that, lol. Don't be embarrassed though. Only pretty movie stars have those perfect teeth.

 

[Nica]

Implants are my dream! When you think about it its not that much more than root canal/crown on each tooth. I am sure at some point I will get some implants. THe cost of dental treatment is so high even with dental insurance. I really wish it would just be covered by medical!

 

[scifi-enthusiast]

I'm 24 and am suffering from Dental Caries. Which is calcium loss of the teeth. My teeth are literally rotting from the inside out and now I have more black teeth than white. This is caused by me having to take antibiotics through most of my child hood and the medication I'm on now. Hopefully when the SSD comes in and I get on medicaid I can get implants put in during the summer.

Let me direct you to the thread I created on the subject:
http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=10081&

 

[RedReiner]

ha teeth! I have had ulcers in my mouth most of my life, every dentist I have been to has no idea about crohns and lecture me on why my teeth are so bad. they dont get it. I now have partials and abotu 15 teeth left, if I get an ulcer above a tooth when it blows out it kills the tissue. expsosing the roots. I also grind my teeth constantly, awake or asleep. anyway the ulcers blow out, go away, leave a hole and then appear a few days later over another tooth. cant save them after that so when its time I have them pulled. EVERY dentist has blamed smoking, lack of care, bone loss on me personally. not one would believe that crohns is the culprit for the constant ulcers. now I just tell them I have heard it all before, you wont understand unless you research so save the lecture. the last one started in on me until his hygenieist explained what crohns was and that it was responsible for many problems. he shushed after that.
They have lots of new dentures and plates that do not look like the old fashioned you can tell they are plastic teeth. they have form fitted flexible ones that have soft liners and form fit to your gums and any teeth you have left. they do not need adhesives to fit tight and not pop out when you eat. Implants are cool too, but if you have bone loss like I do they wont work. there are many options these days and a little research and a good dentist that understands what crohns is can help you get your smile back. Dont be ashamed, I look like a vampire without my front plates as my canines have dropped so low lol. I feel that if someone is so shallow that they judge me by the appearance of my teeth then they are not worth my time of day. I personally would not waste my money on root canals and crowns because I know eventually an ulcer is going to blow that tooth out anyway. pull them and get rid of the pain, find a good denture clinic and work with them to get what you want. comfort and a nice smile you can eat with!

 

[Agent X20]

Red... there was a thread here on tooth-grinding not so long ago if you're interested. If you don't know already it's called bruxism (I think) and you should be able to do a search for it

Hayley... do you have an NHS dentist or private. I got increasingly dissatisfied with my NHS dentist over the years (which is a real shame that it comes to that). When I did a few simple calculations I realised that the private dentist isn't actually that more expensive than the NHS treatment, and the difference in treatment is huge. If you want to keep a hold of the teeth you have left, it may well be worth looking for a good private practice

 

[Jennifer]

Bruxism is tooth grinding and causes all sorts of dental issues including receding gums. https://health.google.com/health/ref/Bruxism I have bruxism too but haven't done anything about it yet. Not having a dental plan makes it hard to get your teeth worked on so problems go unchecked leading to needing root canals, fillings etc.

Four of my front teeth needed root canals so that nice straight toothed smile I have now in pictures isn't real. I used to have two snaggle teeth. I've had root canals on most of my back teeth as well.

Inflammation in your intestines makes it hard to digest the nutrients that your body needs which can easily lead to dental problems but there are other causes as well such as acid reflux, bruxism (dunno if that's Crohn's related but could be stress related which relates to Crohn's) etc.

 

[Nica]

I have the teeth griding going on from pain from Crohn's.

 

[RedReiner]

yep Bruxism. know all about it, night guards, grind em up and spit em out. high tech bonding agents to align my teeth, grind it up and spit it out next morning. Shocked the dentists on that one. In the middle of a flare, I will get ulcers every couple of days, they blow up and then out and as I have receded gums and all that other good stuff, the tissue will not grow back. I found it it easier to deal with pulling rather than trying to find funds to fix em.

 

[Jennifer]

Ya, my dad is getting one of his teeth pulled instead of getting a root canal due to the cost and no insurance. Its horrible that everyone doesn't have dental.

Isn't there medication for bruxism as well instead of just a mouth guard? Like medications for anxiety/stress?

 

[RedReiner]

Ya, my dad is getting one of his teeth pulled instead of getting a root canal due to the cost and no insurance. Its horrible that everyone doesn't have dental.

Isn't there medication for bruxism as well instead of just a mouth guard? Like medications for anxiety/stress?

yeah I have stuff, valium and ativan but it doesnt do much to stop that. I know why I do it but its not a conversation for here. I have done it since I got teeth. and ya know...I can take valium all day long, but that ativan makes me suddenly fall asleep. :eek2: dont know why lol but I am guessing I should not take it and then drive somewhere. Driving I grind constantly, and when I sleep. ironic that I make my living driving...hmmm...

 

[Absentminded]

Since being diagnosed with crohn's last year I've had to have my first ever filling and I've noticed that my teeth are definately getting worse. I've got more gum problems and they're a lot more sensitive. I make sure to show my steroid and remicade alert cards when I go to the dentists so they know what's going on.

That said, although my teeth have been healthy (up until now) I do have a genetic issue which means I am missing 17 of my adult teeth. I have three implants and veneers which were covered by the NHS, as my lack of teeth is genetic.
Having the implants was painful but totally worth it!

 

[Agent X20]

Don't think I'm up to RedR's standard of bruxism... but I did manage to bite off my orthodontic brace in the middle of the night.

I do find that I often have my jaws clamped during the day... until I realise that I'm doing it, and it even makes my jaws ache when I do it a lot. That must be a stress thing

 

[RedReiner]

Agent X20 its most likely is a stress thing. I clench mine to. vicious cycle is what it is!! I never thought the stress thing affected my CD either but started noticing the more stressed out I got the more my gut would hurt.

 

[ukbadger]

Wow !

Well I guess I'm not alone in this then !

I have an NHS dentist but I think I need to look at options of private and/or cosmetic dentistry - implants would be awesome but just not financially viable at the moment as although I've just been taken on permanently at work after redundancy last year it'll be a while til I can afford to risk a major chunk of my ememrgency fund I've built up incase I lose this job too.

I agree they need more education about Crohn's - whilst my hygienist is amazing and treats me very sensitively , the main man just says until my gum health is perfect he won't but a bridge in etc. To top it off I had an accident on my Birthday back on Feb where I almost lost my 4 front top teeth but thankfully a metal contraption saved them albeit a bit wonky !

I wish I could be more assertive with the dentist - I think because I hate it so much I'm half grateful just to get out of the door quickly ...

I'm going to make an appointment for over the holidays if I can get rid of the ulceration !

Thanks for replying Hx

 

[Agent X20]

I like the bit about being more assertive with the dentist... that's exactly why I ended up with a private dentist... the relationship is totally different now as I feel I'm paying for a service. I feel I can ask about cosmetic stuff and various options... which is how I ended up having an orthodontic brace after 50 years of uneven teeth.

My dentist also seems pretty clued up on crohns too and has a look for anything related when I have check ups.