You know the dream where your teeth are falling out?

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

It's happening to me for real.

It's a bit freaky-- over the past year my teeth have literally begun to fragment and split. My doctor looked at them today and she said it looks like the enamel is coming off my teeth-- it's a flouride thing. Since I take the normal amount of care, using a good flouride toothpaste and all the other cool stuff, it's not just tooth decay or gum disease. At first I thought it may have just been a badly placed filling (I had a cavity filled a year and a half ago), but it's gone WAY beyond that.

We think it may be the arthritis medication I've been on for the past three years-- Remicade. I take it via IV drip every 6 weeks, and it can affect the body in various ways.

So now that my teeth are falling out, and I probably can't reverse that, what next? It's VERY depressing-- and besides that, it ruins my smile. :cry: The worst part is I don't qualify for help at the VA hospital, and to have all the necessary work done would cost far more than I have or WILL have on hand.

Are we having fun yet?

[whodiedandmadeUSgod]

1. Are you a vet?

Why doesn't that qualify you for help? Sounds awlful.. best of luck to you.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

5. Yes, but this is not service connected

In the world of medicine, the teeth are held separate from every other part of the body, and it's hard to get dental help through the VA unless you've like been shot or something.

[beam me up scottie]

2. Oh, I'm so sorry.

That sucks so bad.
Could you just go ahead and have them pulled?
It might be less expensive (and less traumatic) in the end.
I don't think dentures are that expensive but crowns and bridges sure are. And you would have your smile back much sooner.
:hug:

There must be some way to get help for this.

Any dentists or dental techs out there?

[RoyGBiv]

3. My sincere sympathies ...

I am experiencing the same problem. It seems to be a genetic disorder of some sort with me, but no one I've seen has said so for certain. I say that because, at 35, I am the oldest member of my immediate family to have maintained all my original teeth, minus the wisdom teeth. My grandmother had a full mouth of false teeth at 28. We're hygienic people, and I had teeth care hammered into me at a young age.

I've been more careful with my teeth than the average person, which I suppose is why they've lasted as long as they have. But the enamel is coming off, bizarre looking cavities forming, and the game is up.

My smile is slowly starting to make me look like a meth-addict.

It's just super for dating. :eyes:

[Straight Shooter]

4. And I thought I had problems because of a mouth filled with fillings.

And a bridge. And a crown. And heaven knows how many root canals I've had done.

I understand how it is when you work like crazy to take good care of your teeth and yet it's never quite enough. And it's so expensive. I would be driving a Jaguar now except for paying for dental work.

Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but people with good teeth don't realize how really lucky they are.

I hope you find a way to get the care you need. Are there any good dental schools nearby? Sometimes they'll take on a challenge, for very small fees.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

6. My doctor suggested a dental school, but that scares me

The last thing I want to consider is an inexperienced hand in my mouth, if you know what I mean.

[KT2000]

7. Man - I am really sorry

I have lost several teeth because the nerves died. The first one they pulled, I sort of cried but the others went better. But that would be hard to take - just splintering like that.

I don't know why dental is treated like the serious problem it can be - with coverage of some kind.

I may not be able to replace the empty spaces either. I have also noticed more people with missing teeth. I was thinking that we will return to the days of the Great Depression when it was common to see people wearing flour sacks, no teeth and untreated illnesses. Ain't it great?!?!

You have my sympathy because it is depressing.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

9. I used to have great coverage at my old "real" job

in Nashville-- my dentist was one of the endless stream of physicians in this country who thought they would do good in politics-- he ran for state Senate (and lost). But he was a great dentist, and his assistant (who was also his wife) was extremely easy on the eyes. It was an easy experience to go there and have work done.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

8. I think lead poisoning can cause accelerated tooth decay and

deterioration. Maybe there's a metabolic cause for your problem that you should immediately address. If you can stop further loss of your teeth, maybe you can save up to get crowns on the worst problem areas.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

10. There are distinct symptoms to lead poisoning

such as the gums turning blue, I believe. I have no symptoms of any sort of poisoning. I'm convinced it's the arthritis medication. And my blood is tested for abnormalities every six weeks, and the latest tests (today) were completely normal.

Among other lack of symptoms-- I have perfect blood pressure. I always have had perfect pressure. It's one of the remaining things I have left as I get older that I can feel good about.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

11. have you ever tried cetyl myristoleate?

I know there are wild claims made about it being able to cure rhematoid arthritis that are completely bogus. But there have been a few studies in the US and Europe that show it has a moderate effect in improving ease of motion. There have been very few studies, however, probably because the compound can't be patented and owned by drug companies. My mother suffers greatly from osteo-arthritis and two cetyl myristoleate capsules a day have improved her ability to walk (although by no means have cured her). I know that this is anecdotal and not scientific but maybe it would be worth a try, as it is not a real drug and can be bought over-the-counter. At any rate, you should perhaps consult your doctor about an alternative to the arthritis drug you are currently taking.

http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:jUyOi7vJkl4J:www.glucosamine-arthritis.org/arthritis/cetyl-myristoleate-arthritis.html+cetyl+myristoleate&hl=en

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

12. I'm afraid I'm beyond such remedies

Remicade is given via IV infusion, every six weeks. If I weren't on it, I'd be in a wheelchair right now. Thanks to this miracle drug I can walk without pain and live a fairly normal life, except for the occasional flareup.

I turned into a true believer eight hours after my first infusion-- suddenly, and for the first time in about ten years, all, and I do mean ALL of my arthritic pain DISAPPEARED. I'm not about to just walk away from that unless there's a whole buncha proof that the new remedy can do the same thing reliably and over a long period of time. If the price for that is my teeth falling out, well, I guess I can learn how to use dentures if I have to.