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scared of dying (could a dentist please have a look at this post?)

F

fresia

Junior member
Joined
Feb 26, 2009
Messages
5
Hello;

In 2004 I had some devestating news. My one and only wisdome tooth developed a large and very aggressive cyst with destroyed my lower jaw.

After a third opinion, my first surgery lasted 13 hours and I almost lost my life. It cause many problems. Including having to have a second surgery to remove the exessive facial plates. I lost it...this surgery lasted 7 hours.

Due to the 'problems' still involved...massive nerve damage and loss. Loss of teeth, which can't be replaced.(only naming two) And problems w/ my doner site was, my own fibula.

I need two or more surgerys, the fibula is too thin and can facture at any time....I can't...emotionally I am a wreck to have another procedure that might not work...I did so much research...sighs:confused:

What other transplants can be recomended? I know of hip bone graphing, but I already have difficult w/ my other doner site...they didn't reattach my fibula. I don't care for the idea of a cadaver bone...and due to the large damage I would need soft bone from BOTH my hips....

Confused and scared:hidesbehindsofa:
 
Re: scared of dying

Hi Fresia,

I'm really sorry that you are having to go through this. It sounds as if you've been through an awful lot over the last years and I'm a bit lost for words. It must have taken you so much courage and strength to get through all you've been through.

With regards to your actual question, I hope that one of the dentists here might have some more detailed information. Generally speaking, there are 4 types of bone grafts:

* Autogenous grafts (harvested from your own body) are the gold standard in terms of compatibility and quality of cells. Grafts from the hip bone are considered to be especially good because it has a lot of marrow (soft tissue within the bone), which contains bone-forming cells.

* Allografts are bone grafts made from human cadaver, and you indicated that you wouldn't want that. They are however used widely. Allograft material is freeze-dried, demineralized, irradiated and treated with ethylene oxide to prevent the transmission of disease. The advantages of using allografts are that the material is available in large quantities and there is no donor site within the patient. The disadvantages are that the process for preparing the graft (that is, freeze-drying and irradiating) decreases the material’s integrity and bone-forming potential, and the immunological response to it may reduce its incorporation into the recipient bone.

* Alloplasts are synthetic grafts made of biocompatible, inorganic materials. They can be mixed with autogenous grafts or allografts. The advantage of alloplasts is that they have no potential for disease transmission, but as far as I know they don't match the other grafting materials in terms of integrity and bone-forming potential (though there may have been advancements in recent years, maybe someone else here might know more).

* Xenografts are made from bone from another species (usually cows). Because the bone's organic component is extracted, the risk of transmission of diseases is negligible. The advantages and disadvantages are similar to those of human cadaver bone (allografts). Many people find this a much more acceptable alternative to human donor bone.

I don't have a medical background and I have no idea which of these may be of use in your own situation. Have you had an opportunity to discuss with the surgeon/surgeons what all the different options are and what the advantages and disadvantages of each of them would be, also in the light of the problems you developed with the donor site? If so, what did they say?

Wishing you all the best :grouphug:
 
Re: scared of dying

thank you for your response and kind word.

I was hoping that 4 years later that they would have invented a 'plastic' replacement....I read it somewhere on line but it was never offered to me.

the first two, one before and one after the surgery were offered....the cadaver bone that was offered was the jaw bone itself...

I will await to see if a dds can also responsed...

thanks again
fresia:redface:
 
Hi fresia, I have amended the title of your post in the hope that a dentist will spot it and hopefully can provide a better answer than me!
However, I've got a feeling that this is a fairly specialised question for an oral surgeon and that it may be very very difficult to answer without having seen you or the x-rays.

If you have been unable to get detailed answers of the surgeons you have seen in the past, in a language that you can understand, I would suggest setting up some consultations with oral surgeons in your area. This would give you the opportunity to find out what exactly your options are. It would be best to write down the questions you have beforehand, and "interview" them. You could write down the answers, or ask if you can tape the conservation. It is often difficult to take in everything the first time you're told, especially if it's an emotional topic and the answers are quite technical. Do not hesitate to ask for explanations, in everyday language, if you do not understand something.

Wishing you the very best :grouphug:
 
Hi Fresia,
Although I am a dentist the specific nature of your condition is outside of my expertise. However, I do hear you and I understand how frightened you are feeling. I would suggest that some counselling might be an important part of what you are going through. The dental side is only one part of this difficult experience and your mental and emotional wellbeing needs care and support as well.
My care around you as you negotiate this.
Philip.
 
Thank you all for you kind words and support....

I have had MANY discussions w/ oral surgeons/plastic surgeons/trama surgeon/MD etc etc etc

Recently I had another oral surgeon look at my case in a different state whatsoever....she was very kind and understanding of my situation...she is the one who told me that my jaw can fracture at any time....

I just am an emotional wreck about a third plus surgery.....I was just wondering about a plastic implant...so I can have teeth implanted and chew w/ both sides of my jaw.....

The damamge is done....I don't see the swelling and pain stoping....I don't know if they can replace my facial nerve....maybe I will have less stress on my neck and shoulder though...

With only knowing the tip of the iceburge...again than you all for you suport and kind words.....I was on the opposite side of therapy for a while, I fear I would get a 'wrong' therapist....but thanks anyway

fresia:(
 
Hi again - I just thought you could also try allexperts.com - they have an oral surgeon who answers questions: [broken link removed] (the first one, Joel S. Teig, says he can answer questions about facial reconstruction).

I also found this message board for chin and jaw implants: [broken link removed] (don't know if it's any good, I haven't read through the threads).

Sending lots of hugs your way :grouphug:
 
Yes...thank you....

the first link, he is maxed out for answering questions...

will look into the next one...

should I tell my story to help others here?

wondering...

thanks connect

warm regards

fresia:redface:
 
Ok what rotten luck...with all the problems I have been experinceing w/ the mandible reconstuction and replacement...I broke a tooth...come to find out there is an abscess which was present in the 2005 xray after the surgery...all oral maxillofacial doctors missed....

Basically I have had an infection in my jaw for 10 years now...I am having the abscess taken care of...but I am so sacred...I cried like a baby at the dentist office just over the new xrays....

What has all these toxins been doing not only to my reconstructed mandible but my whole body?

Any comments....
 

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