Oxycontin Damaged My Teeth (Page 18)

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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It is caused from dry mouth, a side effect of the medication.

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Yes my name is laura and I posted on here about my teeth breaking off at gum line my two denist said they have never seen anything like this in a 8 month period my teeth were fine and within 8 months they were broke at gum line they don't understand but I do have insurance which will not pay for implants and I can't afford them I get $1500.00 a year dental but my lung and heart dr told oral surgeon Ihe would have to extract broken teeth in the hospital and health insurance will pay that bill if done at hospital never able to smile anymore ;((

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Hi
I am 48 yrs old and have been taking only 30mg a day however have been taking them for around 5 yrs now
I have always had great teeth, I only have one filling
Over the past week or so I have found that my teeth have been hurting and brushing and.sweet things are bad.
well what freaks me out is that I have realised all my top row are loose,but they still look clean and healthy
Yes I am off to the dentist

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The meds dry your mouth out which allows the bad bacteria to destroy your teeth and sugarless gum combats dry mouth so keep plenty of sugarless gum on hand to chew, unfortunately if years have passed some damage has been done and I wish I knew this trick from the get go but at least sugarless gum will prevent worse damage...

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I started taking oxycotton pills about 8 years ago when I had a on job accident I have to do that for a couple months 6 years ago I had a car accident which they put me on oxycodone and at the time I had beautiful teeth, and now 6 years later I only have a couple of teeth left in my head not one of them is good they need pulled so yes I know for a fact that these stupid pills are the damn reason of my pain and suffering and losing all my teeth, and like a couple other people I heard say on here if they would have mentioned or it would have been labeled on the bottle that it could cause rotten teeth I would have never taking a one of them, I would have found other alternatives, because the pain that I have endured for my teeth rotting and losing them and my back and neck pain that together has been overwhelming, and this all could have been prevented for me I know buy one little sticky sticker on a plastic bottle!!!!

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Hi everyone,

We hope that 2015 is off to a great start for you all! We wanted to let you know that we have recently been in contact with Christine and sadly she is facing medical challenges at the moment. She wanted us to ask if there is anybody else in this thread that might be able to take on what she was doing.

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I just want to tell everyone who was counting on me to gather and further contribute the names and contact information (personal emails) of everyone who may have been interested in potentially going after the manufacturer of the "Oxy" products and who've made SURE that no other manufacturer could (now) manufacture generics, that I'm VERY SORRY I've not been able to do what I said I would. I've been VERY ILL and in MORE PAIN than I think I've EVER been in and to the point where I'm often unable to even get out of bed much less work on working on the database that I started when we all began this "group." I will do my best, however, to bring that database up to date so I can share it with those of you who I have personal emails for and, hopefully, someone will step up and take over, not only the database, but also the fight against the manufacturer. I'll keep you informed as much as I'm able but please be aware that, in my current state, I'll be unable to take as active role as I thought I'd be able to at the beginning.
I wish you all the very best and I also hope that, in the end, we'll all succeed and at least get them to restore our smiles because, let's face it, that's really all we want, right?
Much love and hang in there y'all! Michele (aka-Christine)

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Dear Christine . I am sorry I haven't been in touch with u and I feel like I let u down in the time you needed me the most !! I have found that this winter.has been the worst winter for me in my lifetime ! I only leave house when I have a doctor appointment or emergency situation ! I am getting to where I would rather stay in bed every day because pain is worst and have not been able to do paper work for Workmans comp because my mind only does what it has to and everyday is a battle but I still want you to know that you r one of the bravest people I have ever met because my pain and health issues have gotten worst and getting a shower is a job ! I don't know where u find your strength but you are one of the. Strongest people I have ever had the pleasure of texting and getting to know ! You remind me of my daughter ! That is the biggest compliment I could give you because she completed her forth year at a Temple University as a speech pathologist and is working 3 jobs and continuing school ! The thing I tell her the most is how special she is and I feel the same about you ! You are a special woman that never gives up and still do your best always ! You are special and I wanted to let you know that ! Stay strong and hope we both find a way to get through this and meet some day because it would be a honor to meet a woman that has the strength you have shown me ! The Mailman !

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I can't help you but I can say I understand your distress. I have been taking oxycontin for a couple of years now and in the past few months I have been feeling my teeth become loose one by one, even as I am noticing two of my bottom teeth starting to hurt, yep I have just felt them and they are becoming loose, that is now 10 teeth, I am very frightened, like you I am a single mum with two kids 8 and 11, I am 48 but have kept well and only look around 35, so I have been told often. I have always looked after my teeth and only had one filling. I have always had nightmares about loosing my teeth and now it looks like it's going to come to fruition. You are not alone and I am s*** scared.

Sincerely,
Martine

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Your message, Mr. MAILMAN, literally brought tears to my eyes as I've yet to receive that kind of support from anyone.... not even my family members or my best friends, because I don't think they either believe or perhaps truly understand the depth and severity of my pain. Worse, it's not only the chronic moderate to severe abdominal pain that caused me to have to resort to taking the "Oxy" prescription pain relievers in the first place, but the additional pain of my rotting teeth that those very same "pain relievers" have caused that I sometimes fear are going to push me over the edge that concerns me the most. Again, though, your KIND WORDS of support and concern did a lot to boost my spirits, if only for awhile, and they were more than I've received from anyone else who are supposedly closest to me. I don't think I need to tell you just HOW MUCH that means to me but I'm telling you now!!!! As soon as I can get the edge off of my pain, I'm going to make my way out of my bed/bedroom and do an email search for everyone who contacted me through Medschat, add them to the table database that I started (and DID SHARE) with everyone who's name appeared on that list, and I'll send it out to everyone again. Perhaps someone on that list will step up and take over or, at the very least, volunteer to help take this fight TO THE NEXT NECESSARY LEVEL for anything meaningful to happen (otherwise all well end up accomplishing is flapping our gums... which, ironically, is what many of us have left of our mouths, or will soon)... and I'm sure that's NOT why we decided to join forces, right? So, the bottom line is, (and I hate using old sayings, but in this case it's more than appropriate) PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS! Or, in our case, LET'S PUT OUR EFFORTS WHERE OUR MOUTHS(teeth) USED TO BE!!!!!

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Dear Christine Your kind words and sincerity shows me what type of woman you are and please know that your words always put a smile on my face and that is hard to do ! No one in there right mind would want to take this medicine of there free will year after year and day after day and the only time I know it is doing anything is if I forget to take it and the pain that we live with gets so bad that you remember and take them right away or need to go to the hospitol because the pain becomes unbearable! For those who take Oxy for any period of time knows there is nothing that feels good about it ! There is no high or any good feeling at all ! It is about trying to be able to function and get threw each day ! Christine please know that you are a special woman and before you try to help the rest of us make sure you take care of yourself first ! You have a big heart and please don't push yourself for the rest of us and forget that your health needs to come first ! I hope you feel better and know that you are a good person and a friend to me ! Mailman

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just want to give you an update on my own situation.

some of you may remember i asked the dlp ( dental law partnership ) to look into my own case of tooth decay a few months before christmas. it has been painfully slow, although they did say, it wouldn't be a speedy process. part of the reason for that may be the fact that, i'm not paying them and that i wont pay them unless, i have a case and that i win that case. but also it has taken a very long time to get my dentist to release my medical records along with any relevant xrays.

i received an email today from the the dlp to say, they now had all relevant information, that was available from my dentist and that, that information, was now being put before their own in house dental advisors and that it will take about 10-12 weeks. so more waiting, sorry! yes it is a drag but legalities and their proceedings do, however frustrating and as i've already said, had i been paying as we go, then things may have been swifter

so i hope you can be patient with me and i will post any further information as soon as i have it but in the meantime, if you haven't already it may be worth doing two things that if we get a favourable outcome will save time. firstly identify exactly when you started taking the medication in question and if like me, you've stopped taking them, to identify the last date of taking. i was able to get this information from my pharmacist and was very easy. also get a copy of your dental records to include any xrays you've had taken, you are entitled to do this, so don't be fobbed off.

another point to consider is, who do you hold liable?

my own thoughts were that it was the pharmaceutical company who were to blame, for not supplying enough information in the leaflet that gets included with the medication as to why you may suffer tooth decay. i don't recall reading anywhere that, the fact that, the medication gives you a dry mouth and that this is the reason behind tooth decay, plus of course the length of time you've been taking the medication, i don't recall this being mentioned either? so it seemed obvious that they must be to blame. when i said this to my contact at the dlp, that didn't go down particularly easy and although he didn't say why and i'm only guessing here, is perhaps because pharmaceutical companies will have banks and banks of their own lawyers to be able to fend off any potential threat of actions like ours.

and so it was put to me, how would i feel if they suggested my dentist may be negligent, and they haven't said this yet but if it could be suggested that he / she was, would i be willing to pursue the matter?

from the outset i'd never considered that either my gp or dentist were to blame but potentially from a dental perspective, as i'd commented about my concerns over the problems i'd been experiencing with my teeth and that my suspicions were that it could be my medication, should he / she have suggested, i find a different medication, that doesn't have dry mouth as one of the side effects and they never did!

so once again i know it's frustrating but try to be patient.

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Martin, I wish you continued patience as you attempt to navigate the legalities of your/our fight. Personally, however, I don't feel that either your dentist nor your GP should hold any responsibility for your dental plight. Why? Because if WE weren't given the down-low regarding what the "dry mouth" long-term effects would be, then how should they have known if (and, yes, that's a big IF) they weren't given anymore information than we were? I think the attorney is looking for the easier mark and I not only think that's not right of them, but I don't think it'll work either. Just sayin.

And, for those of you who've been following my progress, or lack thereof, I've been in the most horrific and unrelenting pain EVER that's not given me ANY rest nor showing any signs of abating. On a positive note, though (yes, there IS one!), I went to see another gastroenterologist and he's ordered a slew of high-tech tests to (hopefully and finally) determine what's causing me so much pain! At this point in time however, and based upon my symptoms, the concern is that I may have developed gallbladder cancer or, worse and God forbid, pancreatic cancer. I found out that they had found polyps in my gallbladder FOUR YEARS AGO and not only did they never tell me about it but there wasn't any follow up done either! But, these tests should help to rule out those nasty (and SO scary) things and, who knows, maybe after they figure out what it is and they're hopefully able to treat it, I'll even be able to get off, or at the very least, reduce the amount of opiates I'm now taking (which are at a ridiculous level now and, needless to say, isn't helping my dental issue either!)
As always, each and everyone of you are in my thoughts and prayers and I thank you ALL from the bottom of my heart for yours! God bless you all!

Warmest regards, Michele (aka- Christine)

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Christine - I'm pretty sure I sent you a message a while back to include me on the list. I have already had a couple of teeth pulled and one that really needed an implant but it was a tooth that had recently had a root canal and a crown and the dentist went in and took the crown off and cleaned out underneath it. It probably will eventually have to have an implant anyway. He saw another one the other day that he feels sure is going to start causing me problems. I am having excruciating tooth pain every night that feels like it is coming from the jaw but they say I don't have TMJ and my primary doctor doesn't agree and feels it is TMJ. We can't figure out where the pain is coming from but I have a feeling I am getting ready to spend a fortune on my teeth because of all of my medication. Please include me on your list. Thank you and I hope you get better soon.

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Christine - why have you not had your gallbladder removed? I had emergency surgery on mine a few years ago and they removed it. I no longer have any problem from it.

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Oxycodone completely rotted my teeth. In the last 6 months I have been suffering from being sick from what I believe is a blood infection starting. I intercept it with antibiotics from my cabinet because I can't get my dentists to help me anymore or my neurologist not to mention my PD. Does anyone know the status of this I want to sue the manufacturer for this as they somebody needs to pay for what they did to so many of us. Does anyone know where we stand with this class action law suit?

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also, I have already posted months ago but no longer get notifications on updates. I think I accidently deleted my request to get updated and am not sure how to get it back. I am afraid that I will eventually die from bad teeth causing something serious such as a heart attack or sepsis. I really need care but have no insurance and do not know what to do. I think the manufacturer should pay to fix my teeth. I just want to be normal and be able to smile again. I will not kiss my husband and barely leave the house. My situation is serious because I have MS and any infection not taken care of promptly could mean certain death. Any advice?

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Christine, I need an update on progress. Where can I get the name of the attorney who is handling our problem? I would like to do this as a group bc I know we will have a good chance of winning. It has happened to so many of us. It should be mandatory that there is a sticker on the side of every medication that causes dry mouth and inserts given to patients advising then how to take the medication and prevent the problem with the PH balance due to dry mouth at the same time. This is serious. Not just some small side effect. This causes hardcore damage that could cost people their lives if not careful. Please respond. TY! Please feel better and I wish you all the best. you will be in my prayers! <3

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hello christine, thanks for your response and sorry to hear about the troubles you are facing. you use the word " attorney " so i'm assuming you're american, it's not a word used often here in england or not that i'm aware of and as a society you are probably better versed in the matter of taking legal action?

I've said from the outset, the real people to blame are the Pharmaceutical company and i still believe that!

but having said that, the resources at their disposal, financial and legal must be immense and therefore difficult to take legal proceedings against them because they must be well set up for this possibility. i doubt that the law firm i'm in touch with has the clout to tackle them, that's my assumption, i don't know that and will ask them when i next speak to them.

we get a leaflet that accompanies our medications, i'm assuming you do to? the fact that tooth decay and dry mouth are mentioned as possible side effects, may be enough to get the pharmaceutical company off the hook. if you check online the list of side effects is immense and so that may well also cover their " arses ", again i don't know this.

with regard to my doctor and dentist, i've never thought of them to blame but having said that, they do have a duty of care to their patients, it could be argued that they have failed to do that?

my doctor has never talked to me about the side effects of any medication, not just oxycontin, he has prescribed to me. nor has he ever talked about the possible risks of taking more than one medication at a time and how they may interact with each other and clearly he should, he has the responsibility of my welfare.

and the same could be said of my dentist, when i became suspicious that it may have been my medication that was the cause of all my dental problems and i mentioned this to him on many occasions, he never offered any advice on how to counteract this or that i should stop taking them and seek alternative meds and he obviously should of, because he too has a duty of care for his patients. to be honest i don't think he believed me!

i would feel very uncomfortable if the law firm suggested i consider taking action against my dentist / doctor or both and at the moment i don't know if i would.

but at the end of the day, whose the victim here? it's not the pharmaceutical company, my dentist or my doctor, it's me and i strongly believe i haven't been taken care of by the other three and they do have a responsibility to do that!

it's me now, that has large gaps in my mouth where teeth used to be. i've had numerous root canal work, fillings, caps and crowns. who knows when all this will stop? even though i no longer take oxycontin, i don't know if the decay will continue and how much further damage could be done and like so many of us, i feel very uncomfortable when i speak or smile from embarrassment.

i do believe i deserve compensation and if i can then, i will have to consider all options of achieving this.

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Amen to that!! ^^^ You said it all, thank you.

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