Oxycontin Damaged My Teeth (Page 3)
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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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I also was told I must have been lying. Oxycontin manufacturers couldn't sell them if it caused tooth rot and loss! Well guess what? It does, and they knew then and know now... All about the Benjamins!!!

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I had no problem w/ OXY UNTIL they added a coating to prevent crushing. That coating upset stomach and began tooth chipping. Things in the stomach flow up the esophagus to your mouth. Damage is done but I will never use coated meds
ever again..which includes all meds marked as ED-extended release.
I get 3 medical journals and all three mentions problems w/. coating and tooth decay or chipping. I believe this because the journals were very respected.

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It happened the same way my teeth showed no signs they just rotted from the inside out.

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I was litterally being killed by my old pain management doctor. The amount of oxycontin she had me on. I forced her to switch me off and started instead being prescribed. Oxymorphone HCL IR, and Opana ER. much more effective as well as the lesser of two evils as to damage to my body. Bad part is the effects of all the multiples of various Severe pain medications, having to now get testosterone injections due to the adverse side effects of mefications. Also after 13 straight continuously medicating, the teeth are now crumbling and loosen and serveral have broken and fallen out.

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I have had the same problem all I want is them to pay for implants its only right.

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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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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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Hello. I got the plastic. I still have a dry dull taste but I sure that's mainly all the meds (36 pills a day). You may want to check into the plastic and my Dentist have me come in once a yr, unless I have other issues and checks my gums (make sure I have no gum disease and how they are fitting for any adjustments. You may want to give yours a call. Good Luck.

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So very sorry! Lupus sucks and I'm in the same position as you. What I hate is the metal taste in my mouth. I've lost so much weight that the semi permanent dentures are loose after a only a year. Your all in my thoughts

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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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Hi Valerie, have you managed to get any help with your teeth yet? OMG I've got a back molar which has a nerve exposed right now, it's so painful, but I won't go anywhere through my own sheer disgust & embarrassment! This isn't the first painful tooth, some seemed to disintegrate, some incisors just snapped, I got to know the signs first I'd feel a ridge at the back of my tooth, I knew it was going to break soon & I was right! After they broke they seemed to rot away, I haven't looked in a mirror for years because of this! I've been through an entire page of dentists that won't help, then I collected a few numbers for no win no fee solicitors, but I wouldn't want to go to court, not that much exposure! I still turn the TV over every time an advert regarding teeth come on & Ive had people posting old pictures of me online, I'm laughing in all of them & my teeth were so beautiful, you know there's something they give to dogs Dentastix to make their teeth stronger, I have to switch over quickly! I've been reading a lot of rules regarding implants, apparently if you've had an accident they'll give you free implants but they need proof from the hospital that treated you! I feel terrible for those people but we were given a drug with no warning of tooth loss! I believe we have a case but I don't know where to start! My local dentist can do implants at £1500 0% Apr but for the amount of teeth I'd need I'd never be able to pay it back plus I'd get turned down as I'm unable to work because I can't walk! So I'm stuck between a rock & a hard place! I hope you get some good news soon Hun, really I do, wishing you well luv Don xxx

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I think we should get help with implants for the med companies. We have to take these meds and if we don't who now what could happen
I would think that there is away to get help with implants. I have never had teeth problems until my meds depression anxiety chronic neck and back pain several surgeries and more. We had no choice we took them to have a somewhat normal life.

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I have told my story about this dangerous drug (Oxycontin & Oxycodone) many times on this site but many more people are leaving messages about losing their teeth, so I will tell it again!!! I've been on these drugs since 1996, shortly after they came out. In fact, the Rep for Purdue was in my Dr.'s office the day of my visit and he informed me that he had just been told about a new narcotic THAT WAS NON-ADDICTIVE!!! Of course I was interested, since I had just been diagnosed with SLE (Lupus) and was in so much pain I couldn't continue to work. Of course, the Rep failed to tell my Dr. that a one month supply of 60-40mg. pills were going to cost me $700!!! The sad part was that they were so effective that I felt like I was going to get some of my life back. So what did I do??? I borrowed money from family, went through my entire savings, etc. just to afford these pills every month. I was so stupid & so misinformed!!! I have now been on a 20+ year rollercoaster with these drugs pretty much ruining every aspect of my life. They are indeed very addictive, and back when I began taking them, there was no mention in their lists of side effects of your teeth rotting out of your head!!! I was a fairly attractive woman but now with no teeth in my head, I'm too embarrassed & humiliated to go and try to find help. I beg anyone taking these drugs to really consider what you're doing to yourself. If you're like me, with the massive amounts of pain I suffer with on a daily basis, you have no choice. One other thing I'd like to mention is you need to consider that if you ever have any other type of painful illness or any type of accident, no hospital in the world will be able to give you enough pain meds even to keep you comfortable. I've since has two surgeries and two operations, and I felt like I was dying. When I told my Dr. after having my Gallbladder removed how much pain I was in, he rudely chuckled and said that was what he had been trying to warn me about for years. In regard to my teeth, it took 13 years before my teeth starting falling out of my head. Literally. Within four months, I had lost all but three of my teeth. I had never even had one cavity in my life. I'm so sorry for all of the people on this site and others who are suffering with this horrible problem. But please don't be like me and practically become housebound because your too embarrassed to get help. Thank you for taking time to read this.

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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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I am going through the same thing and I don't know where to go to get help. It's not fair that not to.be in pain you take this and then you are blamed that this happens to your teeth. Someone should help.

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Sorry to hear about your situation. I to had beautiful white healthy teeth then about the age of 35 I started getting cavities, rotten and my teeth would be fine and within 2 weeks would be so loose. My dentist was also stumped. He too asked me if I was doing drugs or had HIV. Within a year I had lost all my upper teeth and 3 in the back of my lower. Today I have a full upper and lower set. I'm 53. But in 2007 I learned that I have Lupus SLE which can cause havoc on the teeth and gums and mouth. Since the Lupus wasn't being treated my bone were loosing it's strength and my teeth were becoming loose. Now I hadn't been sick to the point of extra medical issues it was discovered during a different routine. Did fine until 2011 and Lupus started showing its ugliness. You may want to check that out. Check your local health centers. They may have some info that can help with your situation. Good luck and Blessings.

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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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omg!!! Same thing is happening to me. They keep takingmy short term país meds away and they raise my ms contins!! Im losing All my teeth and from the gum line. There fine on top . Its the craziest n paínful Thing.

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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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Don you said EXACTLY what I'm going through! I talk to people on social media but don't want to leave the house due to my self awareness and embarrassment! I too have been on slow release MS Contin and was never told that there was a tooth loss or disintegration side effect! I had beautiful teeth, my parents payed for braces when I was younger and I was then in a serious car accident where my boyfriend was killed due to a drunk driver and I almost died as well! I survived after multiple surgeries and pins and rods in my joints, leg, knee and ankles and crushed my pelvis! I was told I would never walk and in hospital for 6 months to heal with many surgeries, then PT to learn to walk and put on these meds! I walked and was taken off them but always had pain, over the yrs getting worse and worse with arthritis, bulging, herniated discs and many other problems I won't get into! But I had to go on the meds again over the yrs and now I have lost my teeth, like they disintegrated and wore down and no warnings were ever told to me about these meds doing this! I think we all should get together and form a legal suit since obviously we all pretty much have had the same side effects! I am so scared to even start the process of getting the teeth I have pulled and the roots where the teeth have broken off ! I'm ALSO EMBARRASSED to even go to the dentist for the fear of being labeled or just have made myself afraid of life in general as well ! I really feel they should have had warnings with these meds and I have read the inserts on a lot of meds and it doesn't state it ! We all know the myth of a drug addict having bad teeth but I have brushed and done all the right things ! I was very pretty and had a nice smile and now I don't even have that ! They have things called 4 on 4 as far as dentures but they are permanent ! They put 2 posts in top and 2 on bottom to put the teeth in ! I am only 47 too looking at all the tooth commercials and every add at others teeth and getting more depressed ! We need to get together all of us ! I just moved to Albany ny area from NJ to be with my daughter and can't even find a pain doctor here to give me the little bit of meds I do take now ! Even with records of my injuries and U/A's and pill counts that were all fine from my doctor in NJ / which is A WHOLE OTHER UNFAIR PROBLEM A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH TOO! Because of the actions of certain people and doctors, those of us with legit pain have to suffer! So pain and no teeth makes a depressing combo! I hope someone will get back to me {edited for privacy}. GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS Don and everyone else on this forum! I totally understand! Love and friends Val xoxo BUT I WILL SIGN AND IM SURE YOU ALL WOULD TOO TO MAKE THESE COMPANIES HELP US! Thanks for reading Guys!

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