Missing Teeth Replacement for People with Crohn’s Disease
[M.D.S. (Ortho), Fellow ICOI]
Crohn’s disease is a kind of inflammatory bowel disease and it mainly targets the intestines running from the stomach to the anus. To put it simply, this is a chronic inflammatory condition that occurs in the digestive tract and trigger problems like fatigue, nausea, stomach problems, diarrhea.
Apart from the digestive system, this disorder hits anywhere on our body and affects eyes, skin, mouth, etc.
This chronic disorder is a factor for various oral problems and intervenes in the oral treatments you are getting especially dental restorations.
The success rate of replacing missing teeth for people with inflammatory bowel disease depends on the extent of this condition. As the disease shares a subtle relationship with our dental health, it can also affect the fake teeth you fixed with prosthetic appliances.
Researches show that fixing dental implants is the right teeth restorative approach for people with Crohn’s disease. Let us see in detail.
How does inflammatory bowel disease affect our mouth?
When a person is infected with this inflammatory condition, it causes a swelling in the intestinal lining. This is followed by the production of excessive water and salt in the bowel. It leads to diarrhea and is followed by various stomach problems.
Such chronic diarrhea causes dehydration. People with dehydration encounter less saliva production which is the reason for dry mouth.
When our mouth gets dry, it provides a way for oral bacteria to accumulate in your mouth. It is the base reason for an array of dental disorders ranging from common problems like cavities, bad breath to devastating problems like gum diseases and much more.
Why do dentists recommend dental implants for Crohn’s disease Patients?
As the gum tissues are constantly exposed to bacteria, it intervenes the normal functioning and can compromise our dentition biomechanically.
Hence Crohn’s disease patients must get permanent dental restoration like dental implants, implant-supported bridges or dentures to get back their missing teeth. Moreover, dental doctors recommend implant teeth because they are composed of sturdy materials as follows:
- Titanium – Bio-inert metal alloy that ensures 93% success rates in people with inflammatory bowel diseases.
- Zirconium Oxide – Another Bio-inert metal that is preferred when a person exhibits allergic reactions to titanium.
In certain cases, the microbes in our mouth intervene the osseointegration process of dental implants. It prolongs the healing period and put the fixed implant teeth at risk of Peri-implantitis. Crohn’s disease sufferers are highly vulnerable to this problem.
Am I not eligible for getting dental implants?
Having inflammatory bowel disease does not mean you should not rehabilitate your missing teeth.
People with this inflammatory condition can get successful dental implants but you should notify your implantologist before the treatment begins.
Before fixing implants, the treatment to control the disease should be given to terminate the progression of the infection. Meanwhile, your doctor derives a plan to improve ingestion and nutrition intake that is agitated by this disorder.
The treatment plan assures the success rates of implanting artificial teeth as well as improving the digestion system.
