Many of you know that Mary Rose, my better half, has been dealing with colon cancer this last year and a half. The treatment appears to have been successful, but there are still side effects to chemotherapy.
Mary Rose has excellent home care. We cleaned her teeth regularly at the office but didn’t take new x-rays because the last ones were taken just before her chemo started. In less than a year, between her upper molars decay started and advanced at breakneck speed. When she complained of cold sensitivity we took a new x-ray. We were shocked at how quickly and how deep the decay went. The tooth now needed a root canal! Her teeth will be just fine when we’re finished, but prevention is so much nicer.
Here’s my recommendation. If you are on chemotherapy or any other type of medication that can have a negative affect in your mouth, x-rays should be taken every 6 months, or sooner if the cavity rate is high during your treatment. It’s much easier to put in a filling than to do a root canal and crown.
We truly don’t want to take any more x-rays than are absolutely necessary. Using digital x-rays, like we do, lowers your exposure to next to nothing. It’s not like the old days with lead shields and people leaving the room when you’re zapped. It’s very safe today.
So if you or a loved one is going through chemo, make sure to have the teeth checked and x-rays taken very regularly. It could avoid a root canal!!
To Your Dental Heath,
Dr. Chuck
