Multiple Sclerosis Dental Implants
Healthy teeth improve the quality of life: they ensure the ability to nourish yourself fully and give a well-groomed and pleasant appearance. However, this has a special aspect for people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Having healthy teeth and gums may not seem like a priority if you have living with MS, but including mouth care in your care plan if you have MS is of utmost importance in order to avoid infections and tooth loss, both of which can aggravate your MS symptoms.
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). Your body’s natural defense system (immune system), usually involved in the fight against viruses and bacteria, races and attacks the myelin, which is the protective sheath of nerve fibers that plays an important role in the propagation nerve impulses from the brain to different parts of the body. Among a great deal of other physical complications those that have the disease experience, having MS can increase your chances of getting cavities, gingivitis, periodontitis, and other diseases of the mouth, and tooth or gum inflammation also increases the risk of mouth disease. This, in turn, can cause tooth loss. When the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is made, a dentist appointment is usually not high on the priority list. More medical appointments and more important tests are scheduled. Yet this is precisely when it is time to think about and plan ahead about oral health as well. It is especially important for people with MS to keep their teeth healthy so that they can maintain proper nutrition and avoid infections.
If you experience tooth loss and you suffer from MS, you might think your options for fixing the situation are limited; and in some ways, you are correct. Historically, dentures have been used for people who are missing all or some of their teeth and who also have MS. Just like for people who don’t have MS, there are certain lifestyle and aesthetic issues that come with dentures that you may want to try and avoid if you have MS. With MS, there are certain oral problems that you may face that make wearing traditional dentures difficult, such as dry mouth and nerve pain in addition to the common annoyances of wearing full or partial dentures. These include trouble chewing and problems with the maintenance and hygiene of your dentures. Because they sit on the gums, many MS patients report dentures as being very uncomfortable to wear, and thus, they seek other options. Dental implants are one of these options, even with potential complications. Contrary to popular belief, if you live with MS, you actually can be a candidate for dental implants, and indeed, this might be your best option. It is just important that your doctor knows that you are considering the procedure and that your dentist knows your complete physical health history.
The procedure of having dental implants to replace missing teeth is surgical in nature, and thusly, there are certain risks and contraindications for having them done. If you are considering implants, please speak with your dentist about your general health and any chronic diseases you may have prior to having implant surgery. If you live with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), you know that many everyday procedures are more complicated for your health, and this includes dental implants.
What are the general risks of a dental implant?
If the procedure is well conducted and the surgeon is experienced, the dental implant does not present any major risks in a healthy individual. However, these risks can be heightened if you live with MS, so again, it is important that you work with your doctor and dentist and come up with a plan that is right for you in your current physical state. When surgery is undergone, it is important that the surgeon identifies all the anatomical obstacles, is sufficiently well trained and experienced so that the intervention lasts the minimum possible time, and that your surgeon does not take unnecessary risks to your overall health and well-being.
Immediate Complications
Anesthetic Risk:
As with any surgery, there is always a risk of reaction to the local anesthesia used on you during the procedure. This is rare, but something to discuss with your dentist prior to surgery.
Non-osteo-integration of the implant: (often called “rejection” but wrongly):
This can happen weeks or months following the placement of the artificial root.
The implant is made of a bio-compatible metal that our bodies tolerate well, usually titanium, so non-integration of the implant is rare.
Non-osteo-integration is when the body does not accept the foreign implant and thusly, will not develop bone cells around it in the jaw. Thus, the implant does not become a physical part of the jawbone and will start to wiggle and move. If the body does not integrate the implant into the jawbone, the implant must be removed, and the process started over again. Again, this is rare, though MS might complicate this in your body.
Infections:
Postoperative infection is rare. It is either a neighboring abscess or (much rarer) an infection of the soft tissue around the jawbone (infection called cellulitis) or a sinus infection (sinusitis).
This is why antibiotic therapy is often prescribed to you after an implant surgery, that aseptic conditions must be drastic and that you must avoid operating when the body is weakened (by another infection, poorly balanced diabetes, etc.)
Bleeding:
As with any oral surgery, there may be bleeding or bruising, although not serious in the vast majority of cases.
There are several symptoms of MS that can interfere with adequate care of the teeth and gums. Fatigue, spasticity, weakness, tremor, facial pain (trigeminal neuralgia) and sensory changes (numbness, tingling, and/or pain) in the hands can all challenge a person’s efforts to brush and floss adequately. To help avoid these and other complications after a dental implant, whether or not you have MS, you must be diligent with your dental hygiene. This will include brushing and flossing your teeth twice daily, eating a well-balanced diet, avoiding tobacco products, and notifying your dentist if you have any soreness or bleeding in your mouth and gums.