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1711722 tn?1356487554

How are your teeth post triple tx??

Knock, knock, Penny?? Knock, knock, Penny??
Hi there everyone.  Haven't been on the boards in awhile, as I have been dealing with multiple health issues since tx (which failed for me).  My doc doesn't think it's due to tx, since  the drugs are out of my system.  I am a little past 1 year post tx w/Victrelis, Peg & Riba.  Because we ALL have had some ailment in our lives before tx, and because I definitely have pre-existing stuff, I don't want to jump to blame everything on the tx meds.

That said......I just found out that I need Major dental work. Multiple cavities, holes, and missing pieces of a tooth.  Granted, I have not been keeping up with regular dental visits but I certainly do not believe I have done anything that would cause something so drastic.  So, for the Post Treatment folks, please share if you have experienced unusual dental changes that lead you to believe it could be Interferon related, or the other tx meds.  And if you have links to any fact based articles, please include those too.  Quite embarrassing to think this is my doing, so if I could provide my dentist with another valid reason.... Too sleepy to research tonight.

Thanks in advance.
Sending a big HI!!! to all my old MedHelp buddies (2011-2012).
Be Blessed,
Bee :0)
Best Answer
1815939 tn?1377991799
I am posting several links to articles which mention the teeth and dental problems associated with treatment. Each of these articles discusses the dental problems somewhere in the article, often under complications or warnings:


5.7 Dental and Periodontal Disorders

Dental and periodontal disorders have been reported in patients receiving ribavirin and interferon combination therapy. In addition, dry mouth could have a damaging effect on teeth and mucous membranes of the mouth during long-term treatment with the combination of ribavirin and interferon alfa-2b.

http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=9ed7adc9-bd0c-41af-b34c-43d15a7799d1


Teeth and gum disorders, which may lead to loss of teeth, have been reported when this medicine is used in combination with interferon alfa or peginterferon alfa.

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/infections/medicines/copegus.html


This medicine may cause teeth and gum problems. This medicine may cause dryness of the mouth, and a dry mouth may damage your teeth and gums if you take the medicine for a long time.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DR602577/DSECTION=precautions-


Dental and periodontal disorders
: Dental and periodontal disorders, which may lead to loss of teeth,
have been reported in patients receiving ribavirin and peginterferon alfa-2b or interferon alfa-2b
combination therapy. In addition, dry mouth coul
d have a damaging effect on teeth and mucous
membranes of the mouth during long-term treatment with the combination of ribavirin and
peginterferon alfa-2b or interferon alfa-2b.

http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-_Product_Information/human/001018/WC500056547.pdf


Severe Stomatitis Complicating Treatment With Pegylated-Interferon
-2a and Ribavirin in an HCV-Infected Patient

http://health.usf.edu/NR/rdonlyres/F05CA297-F2AA-4F28-8B76-5A65378B24A6/44993/IFNStomatitis.pdf


In a Japanese Phase III trial of Peg-IFN alfa-2a and ribavirin involving 199 patients with chronic hepatitis C, including 99 patients with IFN treatment-naive genotype 1 and 100 patients with patients whom had not had a SVR after IFN therapy, the oral side effects were: gingival bleeding and gingival swelling (6%), toothache (4.5%), gingivitis and periodontitis (3%), dental caries (1.5%), stomatitis and cheilitis (19.1%), disorder of taste (15.6%), dry mouth (6.5%), glossalgia and glossitis (4.5%), perioral paresthesia (2.5%), oral pain (0.5%), oral mucosal damage (0.5%), oral lichen planus (0.5%), oral hemorrhage (0.5%), dry lip (0.5%), and bulla of lip (0.5%). On the other hand, in a Japanese Phase III trial of Peg-IFN alfa-2b and ribavirin involving 332 chronic hepatitis C patients, including 269 patients for 48 weeks treatment duration with genotype 1b and high virus load, and 63 patients for 24 weeks treatment duration with others, oral side effect were: dental pulpitis, gingivitis, and periodontitis (8.9%), toothache (7.1%), dental abnormity (1.1%), stomatitis and cheilitis (26.8%), disorder of taste (26.8%), dry mouth (15.6%), glossitis (5.9%), oral discomfort feeling (2.6%), oral hemorrhage (0.4%), oral pain (0.4%), dry tongue (0.4%), decreased secretion of saliva (0.4%).

http://www.virologyj.com/content/7/1/192


Hope this helps some.
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1711722 tn?1356487554
Yes, thank you again my friends.  But does anyone have articles or stats/ links to back this up??  I need something to show my doctor, from a known/reliable source.

Thanks,
Bee
Helpful - 0
1815939 tn?1377991799
Sorry to hear you are having these problems, Bee.

I started noticing gum problems during the last three months of treatment. My gums were red and inflamed. They were very tender and they were receding. I went to my dentist 6 weeks before Tx ended and, at that time, it was mainly 1-2 teeth involved. By the end of treatment it was a lot worse and more teeth were involved. She put me on a course of antibiotics and sent me to a gum specialist. He wanted to do a gum graft. I wanted to wait until the meds were out of my system and until my Hepa gave approval for the surgery.

In the meantime, I was trying to get my insurance to cover the surgery. I asked my gum specialist to please write to the insurance company and tell them that my gums developed gingivitis and my gums receded due to the Hep C treatment with the Interferon and Riba. Even though gingivitis is listed as a side effect, he said he would not write a letter to the ins. co. because he did not think the drugs caused it. Instead he thought I had gum recession due to brushing too hard. I told him I have never had gingivitis or any gum problem in 66 years and I never brushed too hard before, so why would I suddenly start brushing to hard and develop gingivitis. I told him it was from the Hep C Tx meds and was a side effect of Interferon. He would not write a letter because he said it was my fault (for brushing too hard). (What an idiot.)

Well, I figured, if he did not know that Interferon causes gum problems, then what else does he not know. So I dropped him and started looking for another gum specialist who would help me with the insurance co.  In the meantime, I went back to my regular dentist for another cleaning and she was amazed at how much my gums had improved, just by being off the meds. So, now the gum surgery is on hold. I may not need it because my gums have improved dramatically.

I am telling you this story so you will see that others (me) had a lot of problems too, but also so that you will see that my new gum doctor also blamed me for my gum problems when he should have been smart enough and knowledgeable enough to know that the Interferon causes a lot of gum and teeth problems and that I did not cause them through faulty brushing. (My own dentist knew that I did not cause the problem because she has been my dentist for years and I get my teeth cleaned twice a year and I never have had any gum problems whatsoever. I had great teeth and gums before Tx.)

Best of luck with your teeth and any other problems you have.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
         i am having periodontal problems during and post tx.  i will need some root planing done to get my gums to grip better.  as Ohawk said, "a warning for those getting ready to treat".
                                            barry
Helpful - 0
163305 tn?1333668571
Tx is he!! on our teeth. It took it's toll on mine as and I didn't do the triple tx. This is why it's so important to do all necessary dental work prior to tx, and take extra good care during tx including taking calcium.

I know this is moot for you bee but I write this as a warning for those who haven't begun tx yet.
Helpful - 0
1711722 tn?1356487554
Wow.  I did have dry mouth during tx, and used Biotene.  I remember getting uptodate on all of my doctor visits, pre-tx but will have to search my old posts to see if I went to the dentist.  I have decay underneath a crown, which just seems unfair.  I have recommendation for multiple root canals and other stuff.

It just seems as if my all old fillings all need to be replaced, plus root canals and periodental issues.  Thanks for your input on this!  My pain level has gone up since the dentist went poking round in there.

Thank you all!!  Good to hear from you :0)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
  Hi Bee, and it is nice to hear from you again :)
I went to the dentist right before I had my 28 wk Tx w/Victrelis, and I wasn't having any problems, and was all "up to date" with my teeth,as in regular visits every 6 months, for the past few yrs, etc (because of my age, I'm 50 yrs, so I have many root-canals w/crowns)
  That being said, I have just had a full set of xrays done, and one of my
teeth actually shattered under the crown, a giant molar, which will have to be yanked.  I am going to have to have it preped for an implant,it is going to be a major pain, physically and financially.
   Also, my other two crowns will have to be "redone" and there appears to be some decay there. But...I am happy to report I have "no periodontal disease", even though I have a gapping hole, where the fractured tooth is, I kept the area veryclean, via about 3 different kinds of mouth-wash, and tons of flossing.
   My dentist said Cosco has a "high volume" fluoride toothpaste, that is cavity preventitive.
   The Interferon causes bone loss~
Helpful - 0

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