Bone Disorders That May Complicate Dental Implant Treatment

Posted on: 19 February 2019

In order for you to reap the benefits of your dental implant treatment, your dentist will need to ensure that your jaw bones are healthy enough to sustain the implantation of the titanium rods used for the implants. Certain bone diseases can make your dental implant procedure risky, so be sure to let your oral surgeon know if you have any of the following conditions:

Osteonecrosis Of The Jaw

A rare condition known as osteonecrosis of the jaw can cause jaw bone exposure, pain when opening and closing your mouth, swelling of the soft tissue inside your mouth, and oral infections that produce pus.

This bone disorder can be caused by certain medications such as those used in the treatment of osteoporosis. Treatment for osteonecrosis of the jaw includes prescription pain medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, oral rinses, and sometimes topical analgesic gels. Your dentist will recommend that you forego your dental implant treatment until your bone condition has been successfully treated. This is because implant insertion into diseased bones may lead to further bone damage and implant failure.

Septic Arthritis 

If you develop an infection that has not been adequately treated, you may be at risk for developing a painful inflammatory condition of your joints and bones known as septic arthritis. This condition can develop when a systemic infection triggers a body-wide inflammatory response, causing severe pain and swelling of your bones, including your jaw bones and the bones that support your teeth. Septic arthritis may become so painful that you are unable to open and close your mouth.

If you have septic arthritis, make sure that you complete your entire course of antibiotics prescribed to you by your physician. This will help ensure that the offending bacterial microorganism has cleared your body.

It is important to note, however, that even though the infection has cleared, your bones and joints may still hurt. It is for this reason that your healthcare provider may recommend that you take anti-inflammatory medications to help relieve pain and inflammation of your bones so that your implant procedure can proceed. Your dentist will make sure that all symptoms of septic arthritis have been resolved before starting your dental implant treatment.

If you have osteonecrosis of the jaw or septic arthritis, work with both your family physician and your oral surgeon. When both of these healthcare professionals are involved with your treatment plan, you will be more likely to enjoy the benefits of your dental implants. 

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