How Rheumatoid Arthritis Impacts Dental Implants

Rheumatoid arthritis can make life challenging; especially when it comes to brushing and flossing your teeth. And unfortunately, if your arthritis is negatively impacting your hygiene habits, your oral health might be in jeopardy. If things get too bad, your teeth might even begin to fall out! Luckily, missing teeth can be addressed with solutions such as dental implants—but are implants still a viable option if you have arthritis? Keep reading to learn more from your dentist about how this condition can potentially interfere with implant surgery and some things you can do about it.

How Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact Dental Implants?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic condition that is characterized by swollen, painful joints—so you’re probably wondering how exactly it can influence dental implants, which are placed inside of your mouth. It has to do with the healing period after the implants have been placed. Since it’s an autoimmune disease, RA causes the immune system to attack healthy cells which can disrupt osseointegration, the process where the implants fuse with the jawbone. 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. And if you can’t brush your teeth, your mouth will quickly become unsanitary—which spells bad news for your dental implants, as they’re likely to fail if infections develop around them.

Rheumatoid arthritis 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. Other medications can also sometimes interfere with the body’s ability to heal and incorporate the implants.

What Can I Do to Prepare Myself for Dental Implant Surgery?

As a dental implant candidate with RA, you aren’t automatically disqualified from receiving implants; but you do have to be mindful about a few things. Although RA might make it difficult, you must ensure that your mouth is as clean and healthy 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.
• 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.

Practicing 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 maintain a clean mouth and keep the door open for possibly receiving implants.

About the Author

Dr. Jason Kaopua received his dental doctorate from the Oregon Health & Sciences University and has taken countless hours of continuing education in a wide range of fields. His practice is pleased to offer many services including dental implants. If you have any questions about dental implants or would like to schedule an appointment, you can contact Dr. Kaopua through his practice’s website or over the phone: (425) 267-3333.