Tooth Extraction on Prednisone

Has anyone had to have a tooth extraction while on prednisone?  My GI wants me to have two teeth pulled because I am going to be going on remicade or 6 mp and he wants the teeth out before I do.  I know the healing time will take longer on prednisone.  How much longer?  Did anyone get an infection as a result of the extraction?  I know this needs to be done - I'm just not too thrilled with the idea.  Looking for any anecdotal info you can help with. 

My fiance is a dentist, in most situations you can have a tooth removed while on prednisone, but probably the lower the dose you are on the better it will heal.

The other thing is to make sure the dentist knows. I know my fiance has had patients on prednisone before for various reasons, but depending on the dose, length of time on prednisone, and procedure he has them take an additional dose the day of the procedure or has them bring it with them as a precaution, in case of adrenal crisis.

I have had several teeth extracted while on pred. Imuran, and Humira.

The only problem I had was the healing time. It took me several months to heal up, fill that hole in with tissue, depending on the tooth pulled.

Having things healed up very well, was something I am so glad I waited on.

I got my lower partial denture last year, and it fits so well, I forget I have one.

I love having a member on the board that is a dentist.

been living with crohn's disease for appx. 14 yrs. now--had ileocecal resection Jan. 21, 2011--feel worse now than before!--lower right quadrant of my belly--when the pain comes, it literally takes my breath away and cannot hardly walk--it subsides usually within a few minutes--was told prior to surgery, that it may not be for me, i guess it wasn't!--i was reading the column when i saw older than dirt's question about a tooth extraction while on prednisone--it struck a nerve with me--i need 6 top teeth extracted, i guess from probably prednisone, entocort etc...--does anyone know who can do the extractions at a very very reduced cost--i'm dying here, with all the medication costs, medicare costs, part b, part b supplement, medicare part d payment, etc.., the list is endless, it just does not stop! i do not have dental insurance, or i would have addressed this issue a while back--not only do i need the teeth extracted, but also need a full top denture--i live in DE and did not know if anyone knew any body who could be helpful?--i never knew that prednisone could cause harm to your teeth--i guess i should have known, since crohn's can affect you from head to toe--i am starting to look into natural healing methods, because i am too afraid to go back to my GI, because she will want me on the biological meds.(remicade, humira, imuran or cimzia), which i cannot seem to bring myself to wanting this type of treatment!--i am i guess what you would call, a complicated case, meaning since this past flare-up, i have had severe weight loss,(90+ lbs.), go through bouts of going and bouts of not going to the bathroom, malabsorption, general ill-feeling, but maybe i guess that goes with the territory, huh?--what a horrible disease!--i am open for any suggestions and/or comments that would be helpful--thanks for the ears!

thx tooth-but i think i looked into program--wait list is long!--i need pretty immediate attention, since at least 1 of the teeth are ready to come out, and i think i may have infection in it--i just do not know where to turn--i wish you continued success with your remission--thanks again
diagnosed 1997-crohn's disease-not in remission at all!-conventional meds. were no help--too sensitive to alot of the meds.(asacol, pentasa, flagyl, entocort, prednisone)
currently on no meds. for crohn's-have c.o.p.d., parkinson's disease,degen. disc disease, bad nerves--currently take: zoloft, lipitor, multi-vit., ativan, neurontin, sinemet, requip, vitamin-e, cipro twice a week, diflucan(when not on cipro), cranberry softgels, bronkaid, symbicort, pro-air, albuterol nebulizer, and oxygen

I don't know about Delaware, but here in New Hampshire, our county health department handles medicaid, fuel assistance, and also has a low cost dental clinic on site. If you can show that your income goes to paying other medical bills, and have a certain amount left for living expenses, you may be able to requalify income wise for dental assistance. PS My name is Older than Dirt - not Dumber than dirt.

@ tooth

Thank you for asking, Tooth. The surgery went very well. I had an oral surgeon who really is an artist when it comes to sutures, etc. However, I ended up in the ER on Saturday due to an adverse reaction to my pain meds. I had told him I couldn't take NSAIDS because of Crohn's and I knew that anything with codeine gave me nausea. So he prescribed tramadol to try. Just another pain med to add to my ever-growing list. Not only did it give me nausea, I couldn't take my prednisone as it came up so fast it didn't have time to dissolve, but it gave me tremors like Parkinson's disease. I had to go have an IV for dehydration, plus I got my steroid for Saturday via IV plus I got an IV anti-nausea and some more meds to bring home

The good news is he has had me taking a slightly higher dose of the pred for a few days, I have been able to go without any pain meds at all since Friday night, and no dry sockets or signs of infection yet. I am eating well for not having anything but liquid or soft food and I see the surgeon on Friday re the sutures.

Thank you again for your comments pre-op as it gave me the confidence to get it over with.

hello otd..I have had the same thing happen with prednisone, 3 extractions so far and my front tooth is dangling..every time I take prednisone! it is really unfair, Do you ever have nightmares about it like I do?

Crohns,pelvic floor tension,pelvic adhesions,recent hystorectomy,depresion..etc etc

OTD, no have nt called United Way, but will for sure do that, thankyou! So you have to chose between 6mp or Remicade, have had both, One thing about the Remicade is I had never felt so good in my life! OTD, even colors were sharper! I had energy, felt amazsing unfortunalty on my third infusion I developed antibodies to Remicade, I begged the dr to continue infusion but he warned if he did that I could die..Sorry if I scared you, that is why you get infusion in hospital, they watch you closely, and it is rare to develope antibodies. I agree prednisone has kept me out of hospital many times and I have had all the wonderful symptoms you have..it stinks! lol But what do you do? If my flair is not to bad they give me Emtocort which has worked sometimes and sometimes not, just the thought of prednisone brings me to anxiety..good luck to ya, let us know how you are doing..

Crohns Disease, Pelvic Floor Tension,Pelvic adhesions,recent hystorectomy, several reconstructive surgeries after childbirth,colostomy bag, depression and anxiety, chronic pain. bad teeth

@drleac

Lialda is in the same family of drugs as Asacol or Pentasa. It just has a different breakdown time so it affects a slightly different part of the intestinal tract.