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Author Topic: Broken Teeth  (Read 11466 times)

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Offline edfu

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Broken Teeth
« on: October 08, 2008, 06:20:19 am »
This could be filed under "HIV or Age?," I suppose, and I didn't want to hijack the thread where it was first mentioned, by Moffie, and to which Philly responded ("Are You a Fool" in "Living with...").

I had not  previously heard of a connection between HIV and broken teeth, specifically, and I wonder if there are others with this problem.  I thought it was just me, because I've suffered two broken teeth in the last week, with no known cause (I wasn't chewing something hard, etc.).  Since I'm 66, it could just be age, but I've also been infected over 25 years, so there' s that to consider too.  I've been on ARV only since 2001, no PI's, and I take calcium for osteopenia in the hip (so that diagnosis might be relevant, too?).  Color me curious.   ???   
 
« Last Edit: October 08, 2008, 06:37:49 am by edfu »
"No one will ever be free so long as there are pestilences."--Albert Camus, "The Plague"

"Mankind can never be free until the last brick in the last church falls on the head of the last priest."--Voltaire

Offline Jacques

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Re: Broken Teeth
« Reply #1 on: October 10, 2008, 12:34:00 am »
Your not alone, Edfu.    I had two incidents of broken teeth over a five years period. And just like you, unknown cause.   I reported this to my HIV specialist who said that I was not the first to complain about that.   So may be there is a relation with HIV or meds.

Jacques
Jacques
Living positively since 1987
latest lab :july 2010
Undetectable Cd4 1080
43% on Reyataz/Norvir/Truvada

Offline dixieman

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Re: Broken Teeth
« Reply #2 on: October 10, 2008, 12:05:24 pm »
How does one check out an animal for good health? Generally by checking out its gums, teeth etc... I think there are many factors that lead to teeth breaking... and one is the hiv drugs one takes... I have had several just fall apart for no reason.. Now almost all my teeth are capped/crowned and even then I've had several fall apart for no relevant reason.

Offline leatherman

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Re: Broken Teeth
« Reply #3 on: October 10, 2008, 12:46:38 pm »
though I drink a 2-liter of Coke a day and have since my college days (that means I've been a "coke addict" for well over 25 yrs ROFL), it wasn't until I was on meds for about 4 yrs, before my teeth began to chip and break (only had 3 cavities before that). Even eating a thin potato chip once broke a tooth in half! Before my two front teeth shattered and I was left with a gap-tooth smile, I opted for dentures. (My teeth lasted me 7 years more than my dad's (who got dentures at 30) but a lot less than my mom's side of the family, who all have their original teeth - even my grandmother at 92!)

as with most of my health problems, I told my ID doc that I considered the problem with my teeth as another side effect of HIV or the meds. I can't prove that as fact; but it's odd that this problem didn't begin, even with all that Coke I've drunk though the years, until after I had been on meds for a few years. Then ALL of my teeth began to break at the same time, so that I ended up with these dentures in less than two years after the problem started.

smiling with confidence now,
mikie  ;D
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline pozhealthy

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Re: Broken Teeth
« Reply #4 on: October 12, 2008, 09:34:48 pm »
how horriblke are dentures? just wondering. I too have many teeth that need some major work done to them mostly caps and crowns . But I am wondering if the dentures would be cheaper in the long run since i cannot pay for all the dental work they want me to have done.,
Just wondering how long it took to adjust to them

Offline leatherman

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Re: Broken Teeth
« Reply #5 on: October 12, 2008, 11:41:41 pm »
how horrible are dentures? just wondering.

they aren't as horrible as having no front teeth or not being able to chew your food ;), so I give them a big thumbs up on nutrition intake ability and cosmetic function - which are good for health and self-esteem.  ;D Really though, dentures are not as bad as you think. I guess it's just the stigma of "being old and having false teeth" that makes them so tough a concept to deal with.

First the dentist made an impression of my remaining teeth and a mold was made correcting the defects. In about a week the dentures had been manufactured. An oral surgeon had me take a valium beforehand (woohoo! fun drugs not another hiv med :D ) and then shot me up with something when I got into the chair. Within seconds, I felt like I was asleep, though they tell me the med doesn't totally knock you out. I only have a vague memory of the doctor tugging at a tooth (if you've ever had just Novocaine to have a tooth pulled, this was way easier). Only seeming to me just a few minutes later, a nurse was waking me and asking me to move to another couch (to recover and wake up) until I was ready to leave. (oh don't worry. they don't let you leave with a driver ;) I fell back asleep on the way home)

When I had gone "under" I had most of my teeth, though not all, and many were in disrepair. When I was more awake about 10 mins later, I smiled at myself in a mirror and saw the smile I had in my 20s. True my jaws were sore, my cheeks were puffy, and my mouth was packed with cotton; but just seeing a smile that wasn't about to break and knowing that I could go back to eating "regular" food made it worth about a week of recovery (the first 3 days were the worst with some pain) eating a lot of mashed potatoes and soup (though "eating" made not be the right word to describe ingesting those items for dinner LOL).

So though the process was not entirely pain free, it wasn't all that bad, as you have to expect some irritation associated with a surgical process. To be honest, any pain and discomfort I had from acquiring the dentures (including the pain in my wallet LOL) was totally offset within a week from being able to eat WHATEVER I wanted and from being able to go in public, speaking, smiling, eating, laughing without the constant fear of losing another tooth - not to mention the immediate boost in self-esteem!

At first I was a little anxious about my new teeth; but soon I was eating nearly everything (apples and corn on the cob are a little tough to handle but I just bite down harder. LOL although I had to give up my 30 yr habit of biting my fingernails) And it was a good thing too that was I able to eat again. I had just been in the hospital twice in two years (with PCP and pneumonia), along with a lot of AIDS wasting. Part of my recovery from that was to eat and now I was equipped.  ;) Two months later, screaming on a roller coaster - without my teeth flying out of my head  :o - and I got over any remaining nervousness and haven't had a problem with them for nearly 10 yrs.

 ;D mikie
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline Moffie65

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Re: Broken Teeth
« Reply #6 on: October 13, 2008, 12:07:34 pm »
There seems to be a correlation between HIV and tooth/bone health.  I cannot do the connections with the meds, because the HIV seems to be the biggest culprit.  I know Arizona has recently acquired a bang up dental contract that covers us very well, and I have really good dental care now.  For those of you who don't  have good insurance, check with your ASO and see if they can cover you.

Dental is now a required line item for Ryan White because of the connection to HIV, so everyone should be covered, if you fit into the earnings guidelines for your State. 

Currently one broken tooth, one crown, and one removal, all connected with HIV. 
The Bible contains 6 admonishments to homosexuals,
and 362 to heterosexuals.
This doesn't mean that God doesn't love heterosexuals,
It's just that they need more supervision.
Lynn Lavne

Offline bear60

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Re: Broken Teeth
« Reply #7 on: October 13, 2013, 03:39:24 pm »
Its really hard for me to read some of these posts, because some hit home. But some dont.
My dentist has seen HIV lead to gum disease in some of his patients, which can cause tooth loss. 
Some of the drugs of the 80's caused bone density loss ( I am not well versed in this ).
But, serious problems with teeth does not happen in three months of being HIV poz.  If someone is suddenly having problems with their teeth this has had to be a long term problem.  Complications can be drug use such as meth, coke and smoking.  I know someone who had ALL of his teeth replaced with implants.... he was HIV poz....and a meth addict.
Stress causes grinding of teetth, and I wear a night guard which has saved my teeth from total disaster.
So, come on, a rise in CD4 count will not "stop" teeth problems.
Poz Bear Type in Philadelphia

Offline deibster

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Re: Broken Teeth
« Reply #8 on: October 15, 2013, 11:06:53 am »
Hello all,
  I've never had a tooth problem. My gums have receded some, so I'm careful to take care of my teeth and go to the hygienist three times a year. I do take calcium with vitamin D in it, as I was headed towards osteoporosis. I started on AZT & have been on HART since the beginning. Obviously, I have good genes, as far as teeth are concerned. I don't know what explains the rest of it.

My problem is lipodystrophy, no fat layer at all in my forearms or lower legs. I've ended up in the clinic several times because the skin tears so easily on my legs.
Hugs, Deibster
Poz since Dec 1992. Meds since 1995. Disability since 2005. Constantly fighting the Lipodystrophy 'beer gut.'

Prezista/Norvir, Epzicom, Cytomel, Prevacid, Coumadin, pravastatin, Fenofibrate, Remeron, Zoloft, Concerta, Flomax, Allegra180, Nasacort, Centrum, Flax Oil, Fish Oil

Offline Theyer

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  • Posts: 2,701
  • Current ambition. Walk the Dog .
Re: Broken Teeth
« Reply #9 on: October 17, 2013, 07:55:50 am »
Horrible gum and teeth and Dentist problems since first chemo in 2000 , exacerbated by off all things side effect off drug for osteoporosis , teeth cleaning always painfull,
Next dental appointment 22 Oct so I think you may all get familiar with it all.
Oh hateful mouth off mine.
"If we can find the money to kill people, we can find the money to help people ."  Tony Benn

 


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