Question about dental problem and having HIV

[Gaguy2know]

hello.  I have had HIV since August 2003.  as of my last labs my cd4 was >600 and VL undetectable.  I have an EXTREME amount of dental work done since being tested for HIV and even a few years prior where i might have been infected.  Well the point is that the post in one of my front crowns keeps breaking and this is like the 5th time it came off.  I have an appt to see the dentist in early October.  he said the next step might require having a false tooth put in but he is not sure thats an option with someone who is immunosuppressed even tho my labs state i am in decent condition.  Would having a false tooth put into the bone inthe jaw cause me health problems or make my immune system suffer too much do you think?  i am a little worried about that and also cuz its expensive.   

p.s. sorry i put this thread in wrong place. it should be in either treatment or living with HIV

[Matty the Damned]

Hey Guy,

Yup this thread should be in Living With. A mod will move it for you presently.

I can't see why you wouldn't be able to have an implant put in. If your numbers are good and the right antibiotic cover is used then you are really at no more risk of surgical infection than anyone else. I hope this isn't an argument they are using to deny you dental services on the basis of your status.

MtD

[Miss Philicia]

Agreed.  I find this rather odd.

[AustinWesley]

hello.  I have had HIV since August 2003.  as of my last labs my cd4 was >600 and VL undetectable.  I have an EXTREME amount of dental work done since being tested for HIV and even a few years prior where i might have been infected.  Well the point is that the post in one of my front crowns keeps breaking and this is like the 5th time it came off.  I have an appt to see the dentist in early October.  he said the next step might require having a false tooth put in but he is not sure thats an option with someone who is immunosuppressed even tho my labs state i am in decent condition.  Would having a false tooth put into the bone inthe jaw cause me health problems or make my immune system suffer too much do you think?  i am a little worried about that and also cuz its expensive.   

p.s. sorry i put this thread in wrong place. it should be in either treatment or living with HIV

I wouldn't worry bout it.  I had a prior surgery when my numbers were about the same as yours and just recently had 4 wisdom teeth removed.   Why is your dentist so concerned?   Unless you've a history of infections or slow healing or something I wouldn't worry bout it.   

W

[Andy Velez]

I can't help wondering if this quandary is a reflection of your dentist's lack of experience or knowledge in relation to HIV.

The issue with crowns or implants and related dental work shouldn't be about your HIV status, but rather the quality of the work. What's most important is the fit of the crown so that it doesn't cause any inflammation of your gums. The latter can lead to bleeding, infection, etc.

I'm also wondering if perhaps there is a problem with the post on which the crown fits that causes it to keep falling out. That's certainly not an HIV issue.

Have you found this dentist to be generally satisfactory in the past?

Bottom line I don't see any reason why you can't have crowns and such. The issue is dental rather than HIV as I see it.

Keep us posted on this progresses.

Cheers, 

[Life]

Hell, you could have all your teeth replaced with those numbers...  Have your ID doc talk to your Dentist if he is clueless... Or replace clueless with knowledable...

Eric