Rheumatoid arthritis can make many everyday activities difficult, including things like caring for your smile. This can increase your risk of developing painful dental problems like cavities and gum disease. Worse yet, if you have or are considering dental implants, it can also boost your odds of dental implant failure. Here’s why this may happen, and what you can do to prevent it.
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that mistakenly attacks the joint lining, known as the synovium. This often results in pain, swelling, stiffness, and can even cause permanent joint damage.
How Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Affect Dental Implants?
To receive dental implants, you’ll need sufficient bone density and healthy gums. Unfortunately, because treating rheumatoid arthritis sometimes requires immunosuppressants, you may be at a higher risk of infection that could compromise bone healing, which is necessary for your dental implants to properly complete the osseointegration process.
Furthermore, it can be difficult for some patients with rheumatoid arthritis to properly care for their teeth and gums, because holding a toothbrush or floss can be challenging. These activities are essential to protect your dental implants, and because they’re more vulnerable than natural teeth to gum disease, properly caring for them is vitally important to their success.
Can I Still Get Dental Implants if I Have Rheumatoid Arthritis?
If you have sufficient bone density and healthy gums, a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis should not automatically disqualify you from dental implant treatment. However, be sure to inform your dentist about your condition during your dental implant consultation, as you may need to stop taking certain medications in the weeks surrounding your dental implant procedure, and your dentist may need to coordinate with your rheumatologist to ensure that you remain healthy and strong throughout the entire process.
Protecting Your Dental Implants
The great news about dental implants is that they’re as easy to care for as real teeth. You can brush and floss them, and use them to enjoy a full, healthy diet. Although you may have difficulty caring for your smile with rheumatoid arthritis, discuss this with your dentist, as she or he may have some suggestions to make oral hygiene easier for both your real and prosthetic teeth.
Remember, a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis isn’t an automatic disqualifier for dental implants, but only your dentist can determine whether treatment is right for you. To learn more about dental implants and if you’re a good candidate for the procedure, schedule a consultation with your dentist today!
About Our Practice
At BGH Dental, our caring and talented dentists want your smile restoration to be a success. If you’re considering dental implants but have rheumatoid arthritis or another chronic condition, please don’t lose hope. We’d be proud to meet with you and determine if treatment should be successful for you. If not, we are happy to discuss other options to help rebuild your beautiful smile! To schedule a consultation for dental implants, visit our website or call us today at 413-772-0842.