If you have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you know all too well how it can impact your daily life. It can be a source of ongoing pain! Beyond that, it can have consequences for your oral health. It could even affect your candidacy for certain forms of tooth replacement, such as dental implants. What exactly is the connection between RA and dental implants, and are there any steps you can take to boost your chances of enjoying a complete and confident smile? This blog post offers helpful information.
How RA Can Affect Dental Implants
RA has the potential to negatively affect dental implants in a few ways:
- Since RA is an autoimmune disease, it causes your immune system to attack healthy tissues, including the joints and sometimes even the jawbone. As a result, you may heal more slowly after dental implant placement surgery.
- RA may lead to bone loss in your jaw, which could compromise the stability of your implants.
- Medications that are often prescribed for RA, such as steroids and immunosuppressants, might affect your body’s ability to resist infection after oral surgery.
- The pain caused by RA can make it challenging to maintain thorough oral hygiene. If your mouth is not adequately clean, it might open the way for an infection to lead to dental implant failure.
So, Can You Get Implants if You Have RA?
The good news is that RA is not an absolute contraindication for dental implants! In fact, many people with this condition can enjoy a positive outcome from their tooth replacement journey.
Before you move forward with treatment, your dentist will have to consider a range of factors, such as the severity of your RA symptoms, your current medications, and the health of your jawbone.
If you are not currently a candidate for dental implants, your dentist will let you know if some preparatory treatment, such as a bone graft, might allow you to receive them in the future. They can also coach you on oral hygiene techniques that work well for individuals with limited mobility in their hands and wrists. For example, you might need to use a water flosser instead of traditional floss.
Additionally, you can work with your rheumatologist to find out if there is anything you could do to increase your chances of successful dental implant treatment.
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, do not let it prevent you from scheduling a consultation with your dental implant dentist. You might be pleasantly surprised by what you discover!
Meet the Practice
At Santavicca Dental Professionals, we proudly offer start-to-finish dental implant care in a welcoming environment. We are pleased to work with patients of all backgrounds and circumstances, so if you have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, we encourage you to talk to us to learn about your treatment options. You deserve to have a complete smile! To book an appointment or learn more about our practice, contact us at 603-215-7108.