Myasthenia Gravis Support Group

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability. The hallmark of myasthenia gravis is muscle weakness that increases during periods of activity and improves after periods of rest. Although myasthenia gravis may affect any voluntary muscle, muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, and...

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Chroux 02/27/2012

Hi all
I have on a number of occasions heard or read that we as MG'ers need to be really careful when undergoing a dental procedure. Well in two days time I am visiting the dentist for a check-up. I was wondering what is it exactly that i need to know prior to this visit. Is it something to do with the local anesthetic that I need to ward the dentist about, or is it the rinsing and suction that does not work for us?

Any input to this part of our already complex lives will once again be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Christp

bweeds 02/27/2012

Christo,
There was a discussion here with a link to the MGFA handbook (I believe the dental section starts around page 103, if I remember correctly). It had to do with both positioning and anesthesia.
http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Myasthenia_Gravis/forum/13212054-new-experience-dentist
Beth

annkemp 02/27/2012

Cleaning releases alot of bacteria. If they are planning a antibiotic for after a cleaning you may want to check it out on meds we shouldn't use.
Ann

txkiki53 02/27/2012

I recently went, I made sure that the dentist was familiar with mg, to my surprise they had a print out in my chart, impressed me... I had fatique issues with my jaw having to hold it open so long for the cleaning and my voice got raspy. I also had the worse gag reflex when they did the xrays, never had that problem before.

bweeds 02/27/2012

This one is much more entertaining and also helpful.
http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Myasthenia_Gravis/forum/12709471-dental-work
b.

Chroux 02/28/2012

Thanks for the replies, I will let you know what my experience was like

deleted_user 02/29/2012

The only issues I ever had with the dentist and hygenist were: 1)they took teeth out, at the recommendation of my ENT, to cure my MG. It didn't work. Problem was I still couldn't chew and now I had to not be able chew with my gums rather than with teeth.

I had problems flossing. The floss always ended up coming out my nose like a tapeworm because of nasal regurgitation. Hence, my nose was always clean but plaque built up on my teeth iuntil the MG was under control. I'm serious.

I never had ANY problems with anesthesia. They always give me novacaine/lidocaine or whatever it is before they drill into my gums.

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