{"id":1870,"date":"2022-10-03T13:25:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-03T18:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.elmbrookfamilydental.com\/blog\/?p=1870"},"modified":"2022-10-28T13:27:58","modified_gmt":"2022-10-28T18:27:58","slug":"the-curious-connection-between-arthritis-and-dental-implants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.elmbrookfamilydental.com\/blog\/2022\/10\/03\/the-curious-connection-between-arthritis-and-dental-implants\/","title":{"rendered":"The Curious Connection Between Arthritis and Dental Implants"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you have arthritis, you might have a difficult time when it comes to things like brushing and flossing your pearly whites. And unfortunately, if your arthritis is affecting your oral hygiene habits, you\u2019re at a much higher risk of developing a health issue that could lead to missing teeth. While missing teeth can <\/em>be replaced with treatment options such as dental implants<\/a>, your eligibility can actually be impacted by conditions such as arthritis. Keep reading to learn more about the link between rheumatoid arthritis and dental implants, along with some things you can do to prepare yourself for the surgery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How Your Rheumatoid Arthritis Can Affect Dental Implants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic condition that\u2019s characterized by swollen, painful joints\u2014so the connection that it has with dental implants might not seem very obvious at first. However, it\u2019s the way in which arthritis affects your oral health that creates complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dental implant success is heavily reliant on the patient maintaining excellent oral hygiene, in order for the implants to properly fuse with the jaw (osseointegration). But since it\u2019s an autoimmune disease, RA can actually cause your immune system to attack healthy cells in your mouth! This can completely halt the osseointegration process; not only will your implant sites struggle to heal, but they\u2019ll be at a much higher risk of infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another way in which your RA can influence your dental implant candidacy is the negative effect is has on your overall mobility. This condition can make holding a toothbrush difficult, let alone using one! This can spell bad news for your oral health and in turn, your dental implants\u2014an unclean mouth will almost always lead to implant failure!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s worth noting that the medication you use to manage your RA might also negatively impact your implant candidacy. Many treatments involve the suppression of the immune system, which also increases the risk of an infection developing around your implant sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips to Prepare You for Dental Implants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you aren\u2019t automatically disqualified from receiving dental implants\u2014but you\u2019ll have to be mindful of a few different things. Of course, prioritizing your oral health is the best thing you can do to prepare yourself for dental implants. Here are some tips to help you out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n