{"id":651,"date":"2022-04-02T22:01:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-02T22:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonvilledentalspecialists.com\/blog\/?p=651"},"modified":"2022-05-09T22:06:28","modified_gmt":"2022-05-09T22:06:28","slug":"dental-implants-and-rheumatoid-arthritis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonvilledentalspecialists.com\/blog\/2022\/04\/02\/dental-implants-and-rheumatoid-arthritis\/","title":{"rendered":"How Rheumatoid Arthritis Impacts Dental Implants"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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You pick up your toothbrush and let out a sigh; your rheumatoid arthritis makes brushing your teeth a difficult task that you aren\u2019t looking forward to at all. As you slowly and carefully begin cleaning, you start to wonder if your oral health might be in jeopardy. You know that solutions like dental implants<\/a> exist for those with compromised smiles, but you aren\u2019t sure if your arthritis will allow you access to such impressive solutions. Here\u2019s everything you need to know how rheumatoid arthritis can impact dental implants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

I Have Rheumatoid Arthritis; Can I Still Get Dental Implants?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and are curious about dental implants, your dentist will need to evaluate your overall health. They\u2019ll need to test the bone density of your jaw, and they\u2019ll also need to check that your gums are healthy. If everything in your mouth checks out, your RA won\u2019t disqualify you from being eligible. Although, there are a few things to be mindful of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Challenges of Having Dental Implants with Rheumatoid Arthritis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The biggest challenge that patients with RA encounter when they receive dental implants is keeping their mouth clean. Brushing with arthritis is already quite difficult; however, dental implants are even more susceptible to gum disease than your natural teeth are. This means that if you cannot brush and floss thoroughly, you will likely develop infections around your implants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rheumatoid arthritis is also an autoimmune disorder, meaning that many of the available treatments involve suppressing the patient\u2019s immune system. This can greatly increase the risk of oral infection. Some of these medications, including methotrexate, can also interfere with bone healing and bone density\u2014which means your body could have difficulty incorporating and supporting dental implants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips For Preparing for Dental Implants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even though rheumatoid arthritis might make things tricky, ensuring that your mouth is healthy will greatly increase your chances of not only getting dental implants but also keeping them. There are a few measures you can take to prepare yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n