Oxycontin Damaged My Teeth (Page 12) (Top voted first)

Has anyone else known oxycontin to rot the teeth? I used to be on vicodin until my doctor told me I needed to switch to a morphine based meds. She put me on ms contin but I had problems with it so she put me on 80mg oxycontin. Eventually my body built up a tolerance so she kept raising it, i have am now on from 4-6 per day of the 80mg tabs. It scares me that this is what rotted my teeth because only 5 yrs ago i had only 2 cavities that needed filling and then only 1 yr after going on the oxycontin i had to have all my top front teeth pulled as they where rotting from the inside out the dentist said my mouth looked like a heroin addict's mouth looks. He said it was shocking to him that normally he only saw such damage from someone who abused drugs with so much dental damage, but i have never done any street drugs and have only take my meds as prescribed to me. Now i have lost 80% of my teeth and as a beautiful 41 yr old mother its devastating. I cant afford dentures and sure cant afford implants like i would like to have. I am a single mother and refuse to date because i have lost my teeth now, i had beautiful teeth before i started on the oxycontin and only 2 small cavities that needed filling. Does anyone else have this same problem and if so why hasn't the company making oxycontin warn patients of this possible problem?

If i had known this would cause me to lose most of my teeth i would have never agreed to go on it. Of course my family doctor who has been prescribing them tells me she hasn't heard of any other cases, yet when i researched the med online there where others like this why hasn't something been put in the warnings about this med, i sure would have preferred to have lived in pain the rest of my life rather than lose my teeth and be unable to even eat now. My health has gone downhill fast as i cant even chew foods necessary for good health. All I can eat now are yogurts, and liquid type of foods which isn't much. My kids are 7 and 9 yrs old and they watch me cry when we go out to eat and they order steak, and i can smell it but can't order one as i know i wont be able to chew it. This is so devastating for me. I want teeth so badly if i could wish for anything in life besides not to be poor anymore it would be to have a full set of real teeth or implants but i could never dream of having them, and i don't know anyone out there willing to just help me get any either. I have always helped others all my life, but cant even help myself, i have had to have 29 surgeries now since 1991 when a drunk driver hit my car and caused me major injuries with my lower back and knees, i have had a full lower back fusion and 8 arthroscopic knee surgeries until a year ago they finally had to do a full right knee replacement and now they are talking about doing my left knee soon.

So my life has been up and down with surgeries and i would go thru one more surgery just to have teeth implanted if i could. but i could never afford it, but i would like to know why these drug manufacturers are making a medication that could cause teeth to rot like this without warning us patients or even warning the doctors about it. This is just terrible of them i think, as now i am the one paying for this by having no teeth to eat with at such a young age now. I am a vibrant young 41 yr old at 5'3, 120lbs, slim woman, nice looking too as i was a model in my younger days, so i keep my looks up. But to have no teeth now... I never smile anymore, I am to ashamed to smile even though it wasn't my fault i lost my teeth. I think they should pay for me to have new teeth but no one wants to admit that the med causes it, but my diet wasn't the problem back when i started the medication and i wasn't drinking coca-cola either or doing street drugs so i know that wasn't the cause either. The only thing that changed within one year to cause this was starting the oxycontin medication. Well, if anyone out there can help me let me know thanks.

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The same exact thing happened to me! I'm 49f, and single mother of an 18 year old. My teeth were not as healthy as yours sounds perhaps, but they should not have crumbled and literally fallen out, breaking off in bits and pieces! I have fibromyalgia and have been on oxycodone and oxycontin for years now. This happened maybe more slowly for me, however I am left with only one front, and one other small tooth on top. And only my lower seven front teeth! I feel trauma really from losing my comfort in smiling in public, and I know that soon I will also not be able to eat many foods. It's definitely a hopeless feeling knowing that I need an actual miracle to have some teeth! I wish I could sue them, lol! Just wanted to say that I am another one with this problem. Thank you for sharing this and giving me a place to share as well.

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I very well know what you're talking about! But it's not the drug itself that rotted your teeth it's that the drug causes dry mouth.Basically all central nervous system drugs can cause dry mouth. If your mouth doesn't get enough saliva bacteria will takeover and cause tooth decay. I've been on methadone for close to 38 yrs and I brushed my teeth twice a day and within 10 years I had to have them pulled and got dentures.

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If I were you I would go ahead and get them pulled. You will feel alot better and once your gums heel you can get a set of dentures or even better implants.Then you can smile till ur hearts content! :-)

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My husband and I are both on oxy and my husband's teeth are rotting from the inside out. My teeth are weak and I didn't know one was even loose and woke up choking on it I swallowed it in my sleep. I agree they need to let you know and to let u know that their putting u on heroin.

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Hi Valerie I come from the UK & the cost of an implant ranges from £1,500 to £2000 it's ludicrous, I'd been suffering in silence about my teeth getting worse & worse like you I had beautiful teeth, I brushed twice a day, flossed finishing with mouth wash, I only drink bottled water! I had no idea what was causing this on going, depressing nightmare! It's not vanity! I'm ashamed, I don't want to see anyone, in fact I've expressed most of my feelings on here! I've got lots of root canals to be carried out too, I can't see an end to end to it! Then late last year a new Dr took me off Oxys I'm still on slow release morphine though but the letter states that Oxys can cause severe tooth damage! There's my proof! I've written to my surgery regarding this that was months ago, I've heard nothing! Someone needs to pay for what's happening to us, I don't want 'false teeth' in a glass on sterident in a glass next to me, I want implants that incidentally strengthen your jaw! I'm not able to walk at present because of problems with my lower spine & I don't want to, the thought of bumping into someone freaks me out! All my friends have their teeth! I'm so low, every TV advert about anything tooth related depresses me so much! I don't even go to important Medical appointments anymore! I do wish we could something together to get the manufacturers to cough up but living in different parts of the world would make that difficult wouldn't it? xxx

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I'm posting to your 9 year ago post, but I feel I should say something. It's nine years later and I'm going thru the exact situation now. I take oxycodone and I have for 14 years. I'm not a abuser but all my teeth are crumbling away, and the bad thing is I had nice teeth for the last 13and half years that I've been on pain medicine. In the last 6 months went from a nice smile to a jack_o_lantern in this short time. I'm just like you I won't date because of it and I don't even hang with friends no more. I don't have money for dentures so is I will become one lonely person. Why couldn't they put this problem on the warning label, like you mentioned nine years ago!!!!!!!

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Hi, I'm on high dosages of morphine and my teeth are rotten due to my meds. I'm trying to hold nhs England to account n hopefully get them to sort implants out for patients who've lost teeth due this issue.
I'm 41 and I hate even opening my mouth, it's so embarrassing and it makes me feel like I want to die of shame.

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My Dr cut me straight off OxyContin & prior to that Dipipanone which I'd been on for years for instant pain, I've actually received a letter from the Dr claiming a side effect meant that my teeth could rot! Unfortunately it was too little to late! I've no confidence left, but I'm thinking of writing to my Dr asking for implants from the NHS! I'm scared of the answer though, I know there's those solicitors no win, no fee for malpractice! Again I don't want to be struck off from my Drs surgery! Although I'm not living my life! I've been stuck indoors for about 3 years now, I'm 52, I have no quality of life! There are so many commercials on TV either different toothpastes, mouth washes etc, one actually says if you don't gargle with a certain mouthwash if you have bleeding gums, it shows one tooth coming loose & ends up stating "You could be living your worse nightmare!" I've never had bleeding gums, I had beautiful teeth, they just rotted away! Apparently all opiates can cause this damage! I feel for all of you I really do as it is a living nightmare! I've given up on life! I'm so ashamed! xxx

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I rang 50 dentists none could nor would help, as I'm unable to work, I have to go with NHS dentists! Implants etc all fall under cosmetic surgery! From £1,500 up to £2000 per tooth it may be more now!

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I ABSOLUTELY FEEL YOUR PAIN, Don! God bless you and everyone on this forum who've lost, not only their teeth, ability to eat or smile, but their overall quality of life!!!

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Yes I have had the same problem the medicine has destroyed my teeth and I have always had perfect white teeth now they have just cracked and some have just came out of the root and it is so embarrassing I cant even think of smiling anymore and dating is totally out of the question.

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I would love to see a class action suit against the drug companies for not letting people know the damage it does to one's teeth. I always took great care of my teeth and in 1 year from seeing my dentist to returning all my teeth were rotting from the inside out and had to be pulled. Luckily I had dental insurance that paid for dentures but it cost over $3000.00 for oral surgery.
I don't understand why you can't find someone to help with a class action lawsuit when it comes to your teeth but if it had affected any other body part the attorneys jump all over it. There is a lot of emotional distress with losing your teeth due to the negligence of drug companies. It changes how you eat and many times your lifestyle due to lacking teeth. I had a dentist 16 years ago mess up 2 of my teeth and it cost me one tooth to be pulled and over $4000.00 to repair my teeth to look normal. It took me over a year to find an attorney willing to sue for damages on a dental case. I was able to get my money back but it was a nerve wrecking exhaustive process. That attorney was in Kansas City, MO. I want to say her name was Sherry DeJanes. I have no idea if she still practices law or takes dental cases.

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Hi Cristine , like you with your mother I have been dealing with my fathers cancer and some dementa. My mothers worsening health and now my younger brothers cancer and removal of large intestine and a bunch of other things that has increased my depression to about a unbearable point . But like you just keep on going because no other choice. Workmans Comp has stopped my therapy and not paying for some of my meds now after all these years . Sent me to a doctor for a opinion and wasn't what they wanted so just completely ignored it like it never happened. If there is one person that this doesn't shock it would be you because I am sure you seen it all at this point . I hope that things get better for your mother and you because I know you have been threw enough a long time ago ! I will try to check sight more so I don't miss any message from you ! You are in my prayers Christine! I wish only the best things in life for you ! The Mailman

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Christine, thanx for your reply. About the nerve ablation go ahead with it. My dr. was great. And it doesn't really hurt hardly at all. Look it up on youtube & it will show you everything you need. It really is not painful at all & the pain relief is great. I wish you the best.... Do you still have any of your teeth left?

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Glad to hear of your opinion but, in all actually, whether it's got a coating,, Oxycontin, or not, Oxycodone (those that do would be the long lasting/extended relief types) and any of its related meds, they're all STILL an opiate and no matter which one you've been prescribed, they're ALL going to, and we should ALL BEEN, WARNED as to their ability to ruin our teeth! THAT'S what y'all need to understand! And, once more, there's absolutely NOTHING your complaints, here, are going to do to help make Big Pharma to take responsibility and help us all regain our smiles and, in MANY cases like mine, eliminate our pain and restore ability to eat! Only ACTION will change our situations! That being said, bless you all.... Christine

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Angela, Verwon's posts were very good. Quite frankly, having a dry mouth is the real key and that can be caused by a hundred things including the Oxycontin. My heart goes out to you for what you're going through. I too have lost all but one tooth (6 fell out in just 1 day), so I know your pain quite well. I have a few suggestions although I don't know if they will help, but may be worth looking into. (1) There is a company called Affordable Dentures. They use local dentists all over the country. I looked at one of their ads briefly before writing this and they were offering same-day dentures for $325.00. I'm sure that's probably their lowest priced dentures, maybe not the most beautiful, but certainly better than not being able to smile. From checking with them before, they do mini-implants that supposedly help hold the dentures in place and the cost was not a lot. They mentioned on their ad that they will finance the dentures, etc on a zero interest rate basis. Maybe they would even work with you on the overall cost, I don't know. They can give you a cost estimate before you make the decision to do it or not. (2) There are fund-raising sites like Go Fund Me and Facebook is now offering that sort of thing. Essentially you go on the site and tell your story and set a goal for the amount you need to raise. Then you wait to see if anyone donates money toward that goal.

You said a lot in your post here that may go a long way on something like that (multiple surgeries etc) and I'm sure you have things you could add. (3) You said several times that you're poor. That could mean you barely have enough to get from one month to the next or it could mean you're homeless and living on the streets. Most counties have a social services agency that can either help you directly or can provide you with resources that may help you. Give that a shot. (4) Do you happen to attend a church? Churches are well-known for helping their members, or even just members of the community, with financial difficulties. I don't know how well the cost of dentures would fly in this type of situation, maybe not at all. But if you got help with some of your other bills, maybe that would open you up for being able to pay for the dentures. (5) Do you have medical or dental insurance? Sometimes they will cover at least a portion of the cost of dentures. The other thought I had was that perhaps medical insurance would cover at least a portion of the cost if you could show that your tooth loss was due to treatment for a medical condition. It may be worth checking into. I hope something I've provided here ends up being helpful to you and you'll be able to smile again! Praying for your success.

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Yes honey unfortunately those pills will rot your teeth ends anything morphine-based will I mean I I myself MN straight MS Contin morphine 90 mg three times a day and if I had known what it would do to my teeth by the time I was 31 I definitely would have chosen a different way to handle my chronic pain because my teeth are absolutely destroyed and yet we don't get any help because it was from medication that we were getting it's a side-effect so somehow that makes it our fault and then the government won't cover up your dental work anymore so I hear you I feel your pain I understand what you're going through

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Re: Dogs best fr9end (# 730)

YOU GOT IT !!! Unfortunately, the moderator, Vernon says Purdue did include a warning in their literature. Smart dudes huh. So no, we can't sue them. But I'm a huge dentalphobe and this will take all the bravery I can muster to fix my Purdue Teeth.

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Angela, You dont have to explain anything to anyone. I decided no to even read the posters after a few that I did read. Angela, teh Oxys didnt rot your teeth, it is the dry mouth from the Oxys Oxys, or any opiate will give you fgdry mouth. In fact there are other drugs that have nothing to do with opoates that will do the same thing to your mouth. Just ignore the losers here, and try an think about the people who want to help. I am in the same boat as you are, I am a very vain woman, and a few years ago my teeth started falling out. I am devistated to say the least. My life as I knew it is gone, I dont go anywhere or do anyting, My husband even does the grocery shopping for me. I had spent over 20 thousand dollars on this dentist and now I have 10 teeth left. I finally found a new dentist that is going to give me a full set of dentures, and I am slowly saving money to gert it down. I swear that I was close to ending my life.Then one day my husband and I founf out that we have 250 stocks. We had enough money in the stocks to get all of my teeth fixed, but then the stock market took a dump, Well, we got some of it back. It will be a long road, but it will be done by the end of February, I hope.. Hang in there Angela, and dont pay any mind to the sick losers who are trying to make you feel bad. They are the ones who need help..Karma to them,,,Just dont give up, ok?? Remember, they are problably looing at themselves in the mirror..

PHN

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I have to say that most of the answers that Angela got were mean or illegal, and some of them have the facts all wrong. Angela ,I am going to post on your my space site, and give you some forums that have people who care, people who wont tell you to sell your pills, people who dont give false information, ie, tooth loss from any opiate is due to dry mouth, not to missing minerals and vitamins..Also dont listen to people who tell you to stop feeling sorry for yourself. I thought this would be an informative site, it is just like the old vicodin forum, and that is dangerous.. I hope the moderators will take some of these answers down...Angela, If I cant give you the sites tonight, I will for surwe tomorrow

PHN

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