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How Your Arthritis Impacts Dental Implants

September 3, 2022

Filed under: Uncategorized — jc-dentistry @ 7:44 pm
Older woman smiling with dental implants.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you probably know all about how challenging it can be to simply brush and floss your teeth. And unfortunately, if your arthritis is negatively affecting your oral hygiene habits, you’re at an increased risk of developing an oral health issue that leads to missing teeth. While options such as dental implants are able to effectively restore lost teeth, they can actually be impacted by conditions such as arthritis. Here’s more from your dentist about this connection along with ways you can prepare yourself for dental implant surgery.

How Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact Dental Implants?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic condition that is characterized by swollen and painful joints, so the connection that it has to dental implants might not seem obvious at first. But the way that this condition can affect your oral health is very problematic! Dental implant success relies heavily on the patient maintaining good oral health, so that the implants can properly integrate. But since it’s an autoimmune disease, RA causes the immune system to attack healthy cells in the mouth. This can disrupt osseointegration, the process where the implants fuse with the jawbone. When this happens, not only will your implant sites struggle to heal, but they’ll also be at a considerably higher risk of infection!

Another obvious way in which your RA might influence your oral health and in turn, your dental implant candidacy, is the negative effect it has on your mobility. This condition can make it quite difficult for patients to properly hold a toothbrush, let alone use it on their teeth! This can spell bad news for your oral health and in turn, your dental implants, as your mouth will quickly become unsanitary.

It’s also worth noting that RA can also negatively affect dental implants because of the medication that’s used to manage it. Many treatments involve the suppression of the immune system, which also increases the risk of infection around your implants.

Is There Anything I Can Do to Prepare for Dental Implants?

If you have RA, you aren’t automatically disqualified from receiving dental implants, but there are a few things you’ll have to be mindful of. Although it might be challenging, especially due to the mobility issues caused by RA, you must strive to keep your mouth as healthy and clean as possible. This will greatly increase your implant candidacy, as it increases the chances of your implants properly healing and lasting! Some measures you can take to prepare yourself for the possibility of implant placement include:

  • Practice excellent oral hygiene by brushing and flossing every single day. Also consider using an antibacterial mouth rinse. Electric toothbrushes can also make the oral hygiene process much easier if your RA is causing problems.
  • Monitor your sugar intake to lower the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and other issues that can compromise your oral health.
  • Regularly visit your dentist for preventive care.

Maintaining good oral hygiene is always going to be in your best interest, whether you need dental implants or not. That said, knowing how your arthritis can affect your oral health will only make it easier to keep the door open for possibly receiving implants.

About the Practice

The team at Jacksonville Complete Dentistry is thrilled to serve patients and families in the Jacksonville, FL area under the leadership of Dr. Wayne Barker and Dr. Rose Johnson. The practice is pleased to offer a wide range of available services including dental implants. If you have any questions about dental implants or would like to schedule an appointment, you can contact the practice online or over the phone for assistance: (904) 645-6457.

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