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Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: rigger82 on February 21, 2013, 02:04:45 pm

Title: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: rigger82 on February 21, 2013, 02:04:45 pm
Hi guys.

It's been a while since I last posted. I had zero cd4 and in the millions with VL.

After many different ARVs I am stable, undetectable with cd4 120. Pretty good comeback.

BUT MY TEETH ARE CRACKING AND ALSO FALLING OUT!!!!!!

I am on truvada/kaletra.

I read on the truvada side effect sheet that it shattered kittens skeletons and the long term effects are as yet unknown.

I have good dental hygiene but recently lost 2 teeth, had 2 crowns lose grip of under tooth. Is it meds.

Has anyone had dental probs with HAART?

My dentist is worried to pull out the stubs due to my low cd4, but they look like a breeding ground for infection.

Can't eat solids and feeling really low.

Any help would be great.

Cheers guys. You all got me through my immune collapse and pcp. Ever thankful.

Gary
Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: Miss Philicia on February 21, 2013, 02:12:34 pm
It's not just truvada/tenofovir that may be the cause, but also the fact that your cd4 count was once zero (http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/hiv_bone_fracture_1667_20353.shtml).

As far as how your dentist should address this in terms of your current cd4 count I have no idea. Is it safe to assume that your dentist hasn't treated a lot of patients with HIV, and/or HIV with low cd4 counts?
Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: rigger82 on February 21, 2013, 02:18:24 pm
Thanks for the link.

Makes sense ( as much as this virus can )

Have to take the pills to get the cd4 up, while they munch away at bone density.

Catch 22.

Well, I can replace my teeth, so I'll concentrate on my immune system. Thanks for link, again.
Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: rigger82 on February 21, 2013, 02:20:48 pm
It's not just truvada/tenofovir that may be the cause, but also the fact that your cd4 count was once zero (http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/hiv_bone_fracture_1667_20353.shtml).

As far as how your dentist should address this in terms of your current cd4 count I have no idea. Is it safe to assume that your dentist hasn't treated a lot of patients with HIV, and/or HIV with low cd4 counts?

My dentist just seems freaked by HIV let alone a low cd4 count. Just patches me up and told me to come back when I'm in the 'safe zone' ( if he has his own idea of a safe zone)
Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: Miss Philicia on February 21, 2013, 02:20:57 pm
Hey rigger, I edited my post and maybe you didn't see it. Just to ask again, what's your dentist's experience treating HIV+ patients with a history of very low cd4 counts?
Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: rigger82 on February 21, 2013, 02:54:06 pm
I have no idea.

Most dentists I have seen don't know much about HIV. They just give me metronidazole - just in case
Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: Miss Philicia on February 21, 2013, 03:08:20 pm
Maybe you should have a discussion about this with your HIV physician and see if he has a better referral and/or see what his views about this are i.e. extracting teeth/infection issues with low cd4 count.
Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: OneTampa on February 21, 2013, 07:19:19 pm
Ms. P. is correct.  I just had a deep cleaning and will have a tooth extraction in about 3 weeks.  Even with a fairly decent CD4 count and being non-detectable, my dentist wants to make sure of my health situation before he does the procedure.
Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: mecch on February 21, 2013, 08:03:21 pm
My dentist just seems freaked by HIV let alone a low cd4 count. Just patches me up and told me to come back when I'm in the 'safe zone' ( if he has his own idea of a safe zone)

That's HIDEOUS.  Can you find a new dentist, please?
Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: DrewEm on February 22, 2013, 02:10:34 am
Miss P is probably familiar with U of Penn Dental School where I go. A really great place, in fact in my many visits they ask if fellows can come in to observe/ask questions. I always allow it.

Not once has either the observing dentist, his fellow or the students asked me about brittle teeth due to HAART.

They always ask if I am comfortable with them wearing gowns, gloves and masks during treatment to which I reply, "Of course, I don't wantto catch anything deadly from you."

U of Penn accepts Ryan White which augments my employer"s really piss poor dental plan. And, they really are great - I had a really bad dentist as a child which scared the bcheebus out of me. U of P is like a walk in the park. In fact, I sat for one fellows board exam - great learning for me and a few of the other students.
Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: Miss Philicia on February 22, 2013, 04:54:47 am
Miss P is probably familiar with U of Penn Dental School where I go.

Yes, I have been going there now for 8 years :)
Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: oksikoko on February 22, 2013, 06:32:21 am
Yes, I have been going there now for 8 years :)

Interesting that you chose this smiley:  :)

And not this one:  :D

Or even this one:  ;D

Whatcha hidin?  ???
Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: OneTampa on February 22, 2013, 08:04:14 am
Interesting that you chose this smiley:  :)

And not this one:  :D

Or even this one:  ;D

Whatcha hidin?  ???

Well, look at Oksi being clever chops cheeky!  ;D ;D
Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: wolfter on February 22, 2013, 03:34:03 pm
Another option would be to contact whoever is in charge of Ryan White funding for your area.  They have a list of dentists that accept Ryan White funding and would probably be better prepared to serve HIV+ patients.

Wolfie
Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: rigger82 on February 23, 2013, 11:01:09 am
Thanks for all your posts.

I am in the uk. On the NHS. quite hard to find NHS dentists. I can't afford private treatment. :0(

Any uk guys have advice? Or girls!! Lol. We ALL  got teeth
Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: atlanta05 on April 05, 2013, 08:22:19 pm
Is it bad that I didn't mention the virus at all to my dentist?

Background - I didn't go to a dentist for over 10 years. I'm lucky, I have very good teeth, and I look after them well. But inevitably...a cavity will probably show up sooner or later. I got my first filling earlier this year (I'm 39). Have been + for probably 8 years, and dx-ed/started meds just over 3 years ago. UD and stable.
Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: darryaz on April 05, 2013, 08:54:53 pm
Is it bad that I didn't mention the virus at all to my dentist?

Background - I didn't go to a dentist for over 10 years. I'm lucky, I have very good teeth, and I look after them well. But inevitably...a cavity will probably show up sooner or later. I got my first filling earlier this year (I'm 39). Have been + for probably 8 years, and dx-ed/started meds just over 3 years ago. UD and stable.

It's to YOUR advantage for your dentist to be fully informed about your health (ok, there's my nag for the day!!)   :D
Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: Ann on April 06, 2013, 08:21:25 am
Is it bad that I didn't mention the virus at all to my dentist?

It's to YOUR advantage for your dentist to be fully informed about your health (ok, there's my nag for the day!!)   :D



Darryaz is right. Dentists should be using Universal Precautions with every patient, and assume any patient may have a transmittable virus.

It's to your advantage for the dentist to know so he or she can look for not-so-obvious mouth and gum problems to which people with compromised immune systems are prone.
Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: darryaz on April 06, 2013, 11:26:56 am
While we're on the topic of dentists......

This story has been all over the local (and national) news for the past week.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/article.aspx/Patients_of_Tulsa_dentist_continue_with_HIV_hepatitis/20130405_17_A11_CUTLIN949772?subj=17&Cont=Cov&Cont=Cov

Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: DrewEm on April 12, 2013, 04:44:54 am
Hay Atlanta05 - look for a dental school accepting Ryan White funds. From my experience at UPenn Dental (Miss P can collaborate!) the students actually ask and care about the HIV patients. I've only been going for routine cleanings lately but when I had my deep cleanings they understood. One of the first students who saw me (she was the wife of a coworker) said she had to put the latex gloves on out of medical policy. I sad to her she could put on a deep sea diving suit if made her feel better - I had no misunderstandings why.
Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: britchick on April 12, 2013, 05:30:53 am
rigger82

Im in the  UK too!Im thinking of contacting the nearest dental school re any treatment.

I had abscesses in my mouth and all sorts going on in the run up to my poz diagnosis.Never had as much as a filling before these probs.I never went back to that dentist as the receptionist is sooooooooo loud and the whole building can hear her, discussing patients....so i knew that I couldn't tell them re diagnosis.....the whole building would have known in 5 mins flat!!!!!!!!!!!!
Im sure a dental school would welcome you.


Britchickx


Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: DrewEm on April 12, 2013, 05:44:17 am
As big a pain HIPAA ( Health Insurance Portability And Accountabilty Acy) may be, for privacy reasons may be those of us in the states should appreciate it. If the "bitch trog" worked in the U.S. amd behaved as you described she would be "sacked"!
Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: britchick on April 12, 2013, 01:19:32 pm
I forgot to say that there is a lack of NHS dentists in my part of the country...so  i had to pay for treatment.....Its alarming to be sitting in the dentists chair....being given a running commentary on the cost  of each minute   as we were going through  the appointment....and asked for my credit card details while I was still gowned up!!!!!!LOL!!!!!!!

My friends and family didn't go back there either due to the same things happening!!!!!!!!

Britchickx
Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: Theyer on April 18, 2013, 02:48:58 pm
Welcome.

I live in UK and getting appropriate dental has not been easy though it is possable for all UK residents. Your present dentist is stupid , there are many out there who will not blink a lash at your HIV status, they will need your meds list as some drugs for instance osteoporosis  can affect the jaw, gum disease in immune suppressed folk can really be differcult ,you are not alone. I don,t know where in the UK you are but I would suggest you get a referral to a dental hospital, either your HIV doc or GP can do it. In London Kings College Dental School , in Camberwell SE5 dental  has a emergency dept open to all but it is not a good experience , packed waiting room 150 plus most in pain does not make for a restfull environment , but if you are in pain they will see you and most importantly get you fixed up with appropriate on going dental care.

Good luck and let us know the outcome
Michael
Title: Re: HAART breaking teeth??
Post by: YellowFever on April 19, 2013, 09:10:46 am
Well, I can replace my teeth, so I'll concentrate on my immune system.

I have to say, that's a very positive attitude! Here I am worried about lipodystrophy and you're taking meds despite potentially losing your teeth.