Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
I posted a few months back about a gum disease issue. I had an abcess under my lower back molar on the right. Its been an off and on problem for several years. In August, 6 weeks into my first course of Enbrel, I had to go off and onto antibiotics to get it under control. Well the tooth settled down for while then flared up again came loose a bit and settled down again. And its done it several times in the 7 months.
Over Christmas it came loose again and this time I was fed up. It didn't hurt that much but again I couldn't chew on the right side. I don't have any dental coverage so seeing a dental surgeon was out of the question... SO I had it pulled out on Friday morning.
I have this huge bit gaping hole at the back now. I hadn't realized how big those back molars really are. They gave me my tooth after and its 3/4" long and 3/8" wide. I didn't take my Enbrel shot this week and I'm on antibiotics. Not sure if I'll take my shot tommorrow as I don't think its healed quite enough. I'm alreay really feeling the RA flare... maybe the gum will feel better tommorrw and I will be able to take my shot.
The rest of my dental exam went well and my gums didn't even bleed during the cleaning... shows that I've hopefully got the gum disease under control now and won't loose anymore teeth! I've got my RA under better control now too so that should also help.
Now mabye I can get back on the Arava with the Enbrel and really get some relief without worrying about a recurring infection. Fingers crossed!
Over Christmas it came loose again and this time I was fed up. It didn't hurt that much but again I couldn't chew on the right side. I don't have any dental coverage so seeing a dental surgeon was out of the question... SO I had it pulled out on Friday morning.
I have this huge bit gaping hole at the back now. I hadn't realized how big those back molars really are. They gave me my tooth after and its 3/4" long and 3/8" wide. I didn't take my Enbrel shot this week and I'm on antibiotics. Not sure if I'll take my shot tommorrow as I don't think its healed quite enough. I'm alreay really feeling the RA flare... maybe the gum will feel better tommorrw and I will be able to take my shot.
The rest of my dental exam went well and my gums didn't even bleed during the cleaning... shows that I've hopefully got the gum disease under control now and won't loose anymore teeth! I've got my RA under better control now too so that should also help.
Now mabye I can get back on the Arava with the Enbrel and really get some relief without worrying about a recurring infection. Fingers crossed!
I had my molar sugically removed last december and the dr. told me to flush it with salt water for a month about 2-3x a day. Also don't suck on a straw. The hole will close after a while, not completely, but somewhat. Don't eat anything on that side either so you won't get an infection. I started back on enbrel as soon as I finished my antibiotics. about 2 weeks.
bigi
I did decide to take my Enbrel shot on Monday... no releif yet but it takes a few days.
I have been rinsing with salt water and watching the sucking/spitting to avoid dry socket. I use crest mouth wash two, twice daily. I like it because it has no burn... I can actually keep it in my mouth for a whole two minutes unlike the other stuff.
I think the Gum disease was there before the RA and was agravated by smoking, not flossing regularily and then the systemic RA inflamation.
I do have issues with the RA in the jaw joint less than inch from where I had the tooth pulled. It must be related to a degree. But no TMJ thank goodness... I've heard that can be a real pain literally and figuratively.
Fingers still crossed!
Man this systemic inflamation thing really bites... gums and otherwise! Good luck to rest of you you are also suffering.
Doesn't' hurt to check it out..
Tess
I'm a Canadian (BC)... dental is never covered unless you have additional private insurance (personal or through work) or are under the poverty line (on welfare).
Us working folk in Canada don't get any government regular dental coverage for anything done in the dentists office. If you have to got to the hospital for dental surgery (severely impacted wisdom teeth... I had those too) then yes it would be covered.
I'm self employed so I have no additional insurance. I can't really complaint though... my Enbrel is only costing me $900 a year instead of $18,000.