I will be watching this and waiting to see how your dentist handles it. I fear dental work. My dentist is pretty familiar with MG. Last time I was in she said I have a crown that will soon need to be replaced but I "shouldn't worry because the tooth has had a root canal so we won't need anesthesia". Whew.

I thought I would just let my teaath fall out.
I had some dental work done before my last visit to the hospital. I am scared to death.Anything out of the ordinary scares me.

Hi Ann,

I would be tempted to let things go, but even more frightened of infection and what the antibiotics would do. I never met an antibiotic that I couldn't make an antibody to and with all the ones we're not supposed to take . . . at least all the ones I'm allergic to or have reactions to are on the list!!! Did your dental work seem related in time to your hospitalization? Were you symptomatic when you had the work done? b.

Surely somebody has had a filling or other dental work since coming down with MG. Cathi and I are waiting to hear. :-/

Well what happened to me was my preventative doc recommened a Adranal cortex drops for weakness and then I also had my teeth cleaned. It was a week after that I was in the hospital for 3 weeks with a crisis. So I am gun shy. My symtoms were only tiredness and weak eyes till then. I need a crown but I am scared to death of anything out of the ordianary. We believe the adrenal cortex drops caused the attack but deep cleaning of teeth can release alot of bacteria which jump starts the immune system. Infact as I think about it a deep cleaning is probably worse than the crown.

Hi B

Mmmm it seems we all have a fear of dental work in common!!! Not fun! loved your comments bout the antibiotics though!

You are so right about the infection thing though and Ann though it sounds tempting to play dental denial I would caution you against it!!! I had an encounter with a maxillofacial surgeon of the overcautious type whose inertia led to my developing osteomyelitis in my mandible because he and I were too afraid of how my very brittle mg would behave. Suffice to say it was not fun and ended up in major dental surgery during a whopping crisis! It started just like you with a deep filling B which they delayed! Don't want to scare you but get it attended to soonest! I find that the local anaesthetic they use definately does weaken me and so we try to use as little as possible combined with a whole lot of chair gripping!! Am hoping that the money my dentst makes off me is made up for by him having to replace his chair arms after each visit!! Sorry I can't be more encouraging but even though the dentistry makes me weak, the lack of it was sooo way worse!!!

Also due a new crown on a tooth which isn"t root treated! Ouch! Will be thinking of you gals whilst I grip and bare it!!! Goodluck!

Ange

Hey B,

You may already know this, but lidocaine is definitely on the "may unmask or exacerbate" list for MG. My neuro said to use the gas but I cannot remember the name. Last time I had lidocaine was before I was diagnosed but I did have MG and they used 1/2 of a child's dose because I said I seemed way too sensitive to it. It numbed the whole side of my head where the doc put the needle in and down that arm and my whole tongue. And then he said, "How is that possible?!" I felt awful for days after and could not figure out why.

Well it's planned for September 9th at 8:00, so I am planning on taking my pyridostigmine at 7:00 along with a couple ibuprofen and taking my husband. I have taken the MGFA section on dental care to the dentist's office. He is someone who does his reading, so hopefully will be prepared and I said as I left, we'd both have to read up. He looked kind of confused, but that was before I took the information in. I think they use the shortest acting anesthetic and I guess I will chose an amalgam filling since the other is a longer procedure. I will try to leave the arms of the chair intact. If anyone else has any words of wisdom, I will certainly read them! Or pleasant experiences and I will try to believe them! Debra, I think they use nitrous oxide for extractions as an analgesic and that might be an option here. Was that what your doc suggested? b.

yes b., it was nitrous oxide ; )

I'm not experienced enough with the MG knowledge to give advice on dental medications and such, but the anxiety of the dental visit I can relate to.
I will share my routine list of how I survive the dentist chair with you and maybe you can use one or more of my little "must haves". (I am fully aware that some of these are placebos, just don't tell me which ones... lol).
These will not resolve all of the anxiety though, as I will typically have a sore decollete the next day and for a day or two after.

These are the things that help me "escape":
*Wearing comfy clothes, or jammies
*10mg diazepam (valium) taken an hour before visit
*Nitrus oxide set at 3-4
*Neil Diamond on headphones (no idea why, but he works best)
*A big comfy blanket that I tuck in all around me (I feel that this one is the most important of all my escape tools)
*Soft booties... always soothing
*The clarification that I don't want to be spoken to unless absolutely necessary so I can "go away"
**Always remember to use the restroom right before getting in the chair. I find that the gas makes me need to tinkle, and it is impossible to escape when you get that urge.

Use something here if you want. Giggle if you must. Love me anyway :)

Love, Becca

Thanks so much for your replies,
I think my problems from before relate to a bad experience from my childhood, the fact that I have never needed much in the way of dental work since, and the noise. Also come to think of it, some has just been the general discomfort of holding my mouth open. Although having had symptoms for so long means I have already had work with symptoms, this is the first time on medication and the first time I am really symptomatic in a way that makes me feel anxious about more than just getting through the procedure. Thanks becca for the reminder to go to the bathroom before and a warm blanket and headphones would probably make everything more tolerable. I don't know what anesthesia he is planning to use, think I will call a few days before and ask. And then like ange, I'll just grip and bear it. Love ya, b.

the lights always bother me and even though I ask them to tilt it so it is not in muy eyes it always ends up getting moved. I keep meaning to bring sunglasses but always forget until i am in the chair.

Yeah... sunglasses (nodding my head in slow motion)... perfect! :)

I am right there with you, B. I had a horrible dentist when I was just a little kid. Funny how you retain those fears even when you're all grown up. I just try to avoid dental work when possible by frequent cleaning and meticulous flossing and brushing. In fact I bought a new rechargeable OralB toothbrush that gives me that "just from the dentist" clean feeling, love it! I know there is dental work ahead for me someday and I dread it. Ugg.

There are many good suggestions here. You guys are full of good ideas.
Cathi

I can see it now, walking into the dentist office in my beach combing clothes with a blanket and ear phones, when I put on the sunglasses, they'll ask me where the beach bag is and I'll have one! Thanks everyone, I'll think of you and that will help pass the time even if I can't laugh. b.

O guys thanks man you have given me a much needed laugh! I am certainly going to try some of those fun and Zany suggestions!Goodluck to you all!!!
Ange