Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion Helpful Tips AS and tooth problems

Quite sometime ago I remember there was an article on AS and Tooth problems . I wonder if there are any of you that have anything like fillings falling out or loose teeth.
I have one lost filling and one loose tooth. I lost the filliing a long time ago but never did anything about it because of the pain in my jaw area to keep my mouth open for a long period of time.
Well for three days last week I went through some horrible pain and now have an appointment on Thursday to see a dentist. I am a senior and since I don't want silver fillings I am going to have it extracted. I have plenty of other good teeth. Not a problem eating on that same side.
Would like to tell the dentist if there is a possible connection to having AS with the HLA -B27 gene. and teeth and gum problems.
Any thing on teeth and gums would be appreciated.
Thanks
Doreen

I have had similar problems with the sudden breaking of teeth. If your dentist is aware that you have AS then he should be able to make the experience not so bad. My last little episode ended up in extreme pain and an emergency appointment. The tooth was filled with the new resin and things are reasonable since the tooth was done. The dentist could not explain why the tooth sheared so suddenly because there was nothing to show that there was an underlying problem with the tooth.

Hi Platypus,
Thanks so much for the response. I am hoping for good results. I have never seen this dentist before. I will let you know how I make out.
Thanks again,
Doreen

Before you have that tooth pulled, have you considered ceramic fillings? They are more expensive (I think) than mercury but are not toxic. I've had lots of dental work ever since I was a child, but I don't know if it's AS related. Good Luck.

Hi,
I always felt as if my front bottom teeth were loose from receding gums, but not loose enough to see how loose they were. I had fillings in my molars (I think they were silver), but those teeth and the wisdoms kept breaking, and the fillings on top would fall out. Anyways, I had them taken out because they eventually broken all the way down inside the gums. I have osteoporosis too, so I think that is the reason why my teeth kept breaking.

Take Care,
James.

Hi

my tooth pproblems stared when I started with kortikosteroids, but not before.
I never had any bigger problems, now they starting to be a problem, my dentist took out 2 of them last weeks, and still 2 to go.
He says it has to do with Ca in them it has been taken out by my meds.

But as long as AS is under control, I dont think about them so much, you can always buy a new ones!

sanela

Thanks so much for your reply.
I have thought about a lot of things to do with my teeth. at 73 I could become gorgeous. But it all comes down to $$$$$ Unfortunately social security does not take into consideration these things.
I live alone on social security. And this would mean get the fillings and then take my grocery money and not eat.
It all comes down to being poor. money wise.
Found out yesterday that a simple extraction is not even simple for me. Since I have some mitral valvue situation and just started taking Actenol for Osteoporosis
So I am waiting for the end of the story after they get in touch with my cardioligist and my doctor.
This could mean a trip back to the cardioligist since I have not seen him since 2005 and then they would have to farm me out to a Surgeon. Sounds like a lot of money to me.

Thanks for your reply.
Interesting, I never thought of osteoporosis and teeth problems. I do remember half of the back of two of my botom front teeth breaking off after I had taken two Lupron shots for endometriosis which started to grow at the inscision where I had a hysterectomy. Then later loosing the filling in this tooth and one other loose tooth.

Thanks so much for your reply,
But the problem here is the fact that all you have to do is walk into the doctors office and there is a charge.
Yesterday. They took one x-ray of a tooth. Told me she would have to consult with my cardioligist and my regular doctor and charged me $111.00
She is talking about root canal and crown, and even if I got an extraction I would have to go to a surgeon.
All I am able to see is the $$$$$$
Is is costing you much to get all of these teeth extracted?

Sorry to hear about your tooth. Did they say it had to come out? If you can still save it, there are composite/resin fillings now so you don't have to have the silver amalgam ones. There are also the porcelain ones, but they are very expensive. I have the same problem with keeping my mouth open long enough to have work done. It used to really set off horrible pain in my neck, jaw and head which then would start a flare. Now I always have them use the nitrous oxide. Not only does it calm people down, but it relaxes the muscles so they don't spasm. MUCH BETTER. I would not have work done without nitrous oxide now even if I had to pay extra for it. If you do go to a specialist to have the tooth pulled, I would ask for nitrous oxide. Good luck with everything!