Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2000 10:22:18 -0600 (CST)

Dear Ladies,

I know I have been writing about all of my dental problems, and today, I received this letter from another sister who is also going through losing her teeth. Is anyone else going through this? I do know that it is common for us to have our teeth decay at the gumline regardless of how well we take care of our teeth. If you are experiencing trouble, too, please write to me and tell me your experience. I think this is a problem that we haven't addressed well enough, and I would like to research it more thoroughly. I am now learning dental terminology that I never knew before...I think we all deserve a degree of some sort for all of the knowledge we have acquired as a result of searching for answers to this illness!

Here is Beth's letter. I have written her a long letter this morning. If you'd like me to forward a letter to her...just send it and I will. Please remember her in your prayers, as this is very difficult for her....and I do relate to her feelings.

With love,

Lany.

From: Beth

Date: Wed, Dec 27, 2000, 6:15am

Subject: losing teeth

Hello---I am in dental hell! I am losing so many teeth and am scheduled for dentures, due to Sjogren's Syndrome and too many years of prednisone... is this also a wide spread silicone problem?? I am so embarrassed by losing my teeth, it breaks my heart and is very very depressing, is it also happening to other women? My doc says its the Sjogren's, my dentist is in shock---I showed him a picture of me less than five years ago...I have kept up with routine dental care and NOTHING has worked to save them....I dread dentures and will probably need some heavy duty tranqulizers just to get me in there to pull them out-losing my teeth has been harder on me than everything else I've lost. I handled the wheel chair, the loss of walking, but losing my teeth about breaks me mentally. Any information will be greatly appreciated. I am a "poor candidate" for implants because of the bone loss. I have dry mouth so even the dentures are going to be a problem. I've lost teeth that do NOT even have a cavity, they are just falling out. Dentures, according to my dentist are not going to do well either because of the dry mouth and severe bone loss....very, very depressing. I am scheduled for Jan.22 to have the remaining six teeth pulled....its like losing everything again. Any thought, ideas or others going through this too? Thanks for all you send, and the best of the New Year to you...

Beth