Very Odd Question!!

[sass]

Has anyone here had bone start to grow and protrude through their gums?  I know this bony growth is called Tori or Torus mandibularis.  It is an abnormal growth of bone in the mouth.  Mine has started growing thru and is like razor blades.  It is very painful.  I had it happen once before on the other side and was warned not to ever take osteroperosis medications or calcium.  Well now here it is on this side!!.  Just wondering if any other Sjogries have experienced this.  (I know, I know, I have some really weird issues)    sass

[Piebird]

I have not had this but usually someone shows up with the same troubles.

[irish]

I have heard about it in some of my searches, but I don't remember what it was I read about it. Hope you can get it taken care of and get rid of the pain. Irish

[Skylar]

I don't have this - I'm sorry you do, sounds awful. I have had recent bone growth on my feet and hands diagnosed by Xray by two orthopedic surgeons. In my case it might be related to problems I'm having with Vitamin D deficiency that is being treated. Have you had blood work for hypoparathyroidism?

[eye2dry]

Hi Sass.

No, I don't know anything about this, it sure sounds painful.

When you had this before, how did they treat it?


eye2dry

[m_robinson1911@hotmail.co]

I had this happen when my wisdom teeth were removed. On my upper left I also had the adjacent molar removed as it was too far gone for a root canal. The bone then tried to fill in the space for the two lost teeth. I had to have an alvioplasty - where they cut the gum open and grind down the bone. Gross.

More disturbing still was the fact they put me on the same hardcore antibiotic I had just finished for the extractions, which ended up decimating all the good bacteria in my gut. That had to be some of the worst pain I've ever been in. Would eat something, my guts would cramp it straight through and then puke it out the other side undigested. Nasty.

Is your bony growth due to some extraction or loss of teeth, or Is it coming down where teeth used to be, or growing out the side....if that's possible!?

[ashewoman]

I hadn't even thought about that having anything to do with the Sjogren's.  About 2 years ago, I had a really sharp and long protrusion of bone from my gum on the left lower side.  Just as we were considering dental surgery, the dentist reached in and broke the darn thing off without telling me.  Honestly, it may sound brutal, but I'm glad he did it that way. It was much less painful than surgery would have been and healed up quickly. 

I lost my teeth to Sjogren's before I could even manage to get a proper diagnosis.  Which is why I am sure I suffered with it for more than a decade before the very recent diagnosis was made.  But I still get uncomfortable protrusions from my gums.  They aren't as obvious as that one, but let me tell you ladies.  Hang on to your teeth as long as you can... I've had to get secure enough to go places and be seen without the dentures on days that I have more mouth pain.  I also have diabetes and the combo really screws with the naturally occurring flora and fauna of my mouth.  I get constant mouth infections.  The treatment for which are as bad as the flip flopping bacteria levels.  Both good bacteria and not so good bacteria.  I realize getting rid of the damaged teeth was medically necessary. I'd ground them down on top of the rapid decay from lack of saliva out of pain apparently gnashing my teeth until they couldn't repair all of them sensibly again and again. I think I'd had every tooth in my head completely rebuilt and some of them repeatedly in the last 10 years.  I never had one cavity when I was a kid.   Not one.  My brother always had a couple but not me.  So I hardly think dental hygiene was the problem.  It was just a losing battle.  And the dental pain was relentless.  I certainly never thought I'd be a "gummy granny" at 40.   Or that saliva was just as important to comfortable denture wear as it was to healthy real teeth. 

I tell you though, it does help you decipher who really loves you because superficial people just don't want to be seen with you in public when you can't handle the pain of wearing the dentures with all the other Sjogren's pain.  I'm lucky to have sincere people in my life who may not find my bad days attractive but are willing to invite me along even when I don't look my best because I don't feel my best.  I wish I could alter people's perceptions by educating them to stop telling jokes about people who don't have all their teeth as if this is caused by some character flaw.  The truth is that I've had to develop more character to drag myself into public and face possible ridicule on days I already feel like burnt toast thanks to this unfortunate twist of genetics and disorder. 

[Katybarstool]

I have a boney growth in the top gum. I've had dentures since I was 19 and Im now 55. The bone became prominant a couple of years ago and my dentist thought it was just some that was missed when my teeth were extracted. I'm not sure. We are monitoring it, but if it becomes a bigger problem, I'll insist on him getting rid of it.

Kathyx

[susan]

Hi Sass,
I have the Tori, but they have not pushed through. That sounds very painful!
Would an oral surgeon be helpful? Not sure on this one---- let us know how it goes.

[AAACGRL]

When my salivary glands started acting up big time, I ended up with a Tori. It was so painful! I saw a oral surgeon and a few dentists. They refused to mess with it. (at the time I didn't know what "it" was) Finally one dentist told me what it was. They also said there was part of the salivary gland kinda near where it was and that the two were probably causing a lot of pain. Now that the submandibular gland is gone, after about six months the Tori pain went away. (NOT suggesting having glands removed-it's no picnic) But I also have some bony spots where my wisdom teeth were and those areas flare up now and again. I'm sorry to hear you're going through it. Mouth pain is the worst!

[irish]

ashewoman, Have you ever had blood work done for immune deficiency??? This can involve low IgG levels, low t-cells, low B-cells, etc. It involves the cells white cells that are mostly produced in the bone marrow and are responsible for fighting off infection.

I have low t-cells and struggled for more years than I can remember with infections. The last 15 years before I had my teeth pulled were really bad. I had my teeth pulled (the rest of them) in 2004 and have never regretted it.

Wanted to tell you that I went without my 4 front bottom teeth for about 10 months. I just learned to live with it. My boss at work (male) always teased me and I just smiled at him. I looked like a hillbilly. I am a nurse and was working with the public. I just told new people I met to just excuse my looks as I was in the middle of dental work. I didn't tell them how long it was going on.

I also learned to wear a surgical mask that you can buy at Menards in the paint supply section. I would wear it to cover my totally toothless mouth but I would tell people who wondered about it that I had to protect myself against getting any infections due to my autoimmune disease. That pretty much shut them up.lol More information than they wanted to know and they didn't know what to do with the information I did give them. Life can be fun sometimes. lol

Also, my dentist has some surgical masks that he gave out to people when he pulled their teeth. The mask had a big red smile on the front and was really cute. Sort of explained it all.

If you are continuing to have infections after your teeth are gone I would guess that something is not right. Once the teeth are gone (roots and all) the source of the infection is usually removed. This is why I am concerned about your ability to fight off infections.

The other thing is the possibility of bacteria that are being harbored in your gums that may not be getting killed off by the antibiotics you are taking. Have they ever suggested using IV antibiotics with a PIC line??? This goes on for several weeks and helps keep the blood level of the antibiotic higher so that it can eradicate the bacteria better. Just thought I would mention it. Good luck. I hope you can get this solved. Irish

[sass]

Sorry that I ha  ven't updated.  8 yr old grandson in hospital with pnuemonia, strep, vomitting and high fever. I am keeping his 2 month old brother.  And to be honest, If all this weren't going on, I would have been at the ER myself.  Really having a bad time with my lung issue.  I have so many things going on now, i can't even begin to tell you.  But on the Tori.  Last time I had it, the dentist just had me wait it out,  Eventually it stopped growing and after all the exposed pieces splintered and broke off, the gum healed and that went back to semi-normal.  I say that because I still have the Tori, but it is just behaving. 
I also have a major Parotid issue that no one will touch.  Still trying to find someone that can give me a defentitve on that, but as most of you know that is old hat.
It has spread more towards the back tooth and has gotten a little worse at this time.  It is very painful, so at this time I am careful with what I eat. 
I worked in detistry for many yrs and I realize the Tori grows for a couple reason, Bruxism (clenching) is one of them and if you continue to stress and clench, can possible create the protrusion and breaking. 
I do have very low D, waiting on B12 results and PTH for the Parathyroid.   hopefully hear something on that tomorrow.    more later- can't stay awake

[quilt4fun]

Me too!  Mine is in the inside lower jaw--my tongue rubs against it.  It does not go through the skin. But it is irritating.
My dentist just looks at it and says not to worry-no big deal.  He never gave it a name though--now I know.