I am not sure why Betty's old post (from a year ago), came to be tagged again, but I responded only to find out that she passed away last year.  So I felt a bit insentitive and went back and deleted my post.

However now, I find the responses interesting and wonder how many of us with PIDD have unusual dental issues.  We are organic eaters.  We allow very little sugar into our home, no soda etc.  I never gave my babies fruit baby food until they were 16 months and they had all veggies.  I even made their baby food myself.  However, by the time they were 7, they each had to undergo 8 baby root canals.  My own teeth are falling apart.  It happened all at once.  I went 42 years without a cavity, and then next thing I knew, I needed 15 fillings two root canals.  I had an orthodontist when I was 21 that decided that, rather than pulling my teeth to make room for my new braces, he would sand between all of my teeth to make room.  Well, so much for my enamel to protect my teeth.  But as my immune system has declined, my teeth have become a HUGE issue.  I HATE dentists.  I had a frankendentist as a child and am petrified of them, avoiding them at all costs.

Our dentist believes that there is a link between the immune disease and our dental issues.  I asked our immunologist and their response was to say that our immune systems are so messed up on every level, that they could certainly believe there is a connection, but they don't know how.  Now, there is a question of mitochondrial disease.  Having just had our genetics come back showing both 2 common gene deletions for mito disease and one novel gene, it seems this could also be the issue as I think I remember reading the mito patients have dental issues.......but mito patients also tend to have immune issues.

So my theory is really gut based, literally.  So much of our immune system is related to our gut.  In our family, we have definate issues there.  We have also proven to have an issue with absorbing B12 and D3, thereby liekly leading to calcium absorption issues.  I have seen many people post that they have issues absorbing these also (curious, but another subject all together).

So it seems that someone should explore this as it is a HUGE expense to many of us......dental care is not cheap and dental insurance is sadly lacking; even the best policy leaves your pocketbook screaming.  I really thing that dental care should be covered under primary medical insurance, without question, when the issues are related to a disease process.  Having a family with 1 person with PIDD can be financially demanding.   Having a family with 3 with PIDD......well, let's just say that the vacation to tahiti is going to have to wait.

Terri