Hi Coach,

Several things need to be considered before placing a dental implant in someone with RSD. I am a believer that the decision process should include the overall health of your mouth, your teeth and your physical well being. To help become better informed, it makes sense to look at the entire picture and not just the current tooth problem because patching things up with additional fillings or root canals or placing an implant here and there when you lose a tooth may not be in your best interest overall.

1) How healthy are your teeth and gums in general? Do you have cavities, mercury fillings, crowns, root canaled teeth, periodontal disease??

DECAYED TEETH, ROOT CANALED TEETH AND PERIODONTAL DISEASE ARE ALWAYS A SOURCE OF INFECTION. MERCURY FILLINGS ARE HIGHLY TOXIC AND OLD OR ILL FITTING CROWNS GENERALLY HAVE DECAY UNDERNEATH THEM. ALL OF THESE ISSUES COMPROMISE YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM AND IN TURN AGGRAVATE THE INFLAMMATION/PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH RSD.

2) Do you get regular check ups and cleanings at your dentist? Are you physically capable of properly brushing and flossing your teeth on a daily basis?

THE ONLY WAY TO MONITOR YOUR ORAL HEALTH IS TO HAVE REGULAR DENTAL VISITS WHICH INCLUDE THOROUGH EXAMS, COMPREHENSIVE CLEANINGS AND TAKING XRAYS PERIODICALLY. IT IS SO EASY FOR A DENTAL PROBLEM TO CROP UP WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING IT AND BY THE TIME IT SHOWS SYMPTOMS, THE PROBLEM IS COMPLICATED. ALSO BEING ABLE TO PROPERLY CLEAN YOUR TEETH AND GUMS ON A DAILY BASIS IS ESSENTIAL IF YOU ARE GOING TO KEEP YOUR TEETH AND/OR DO IMPLANTS.

3) What meds are you on? Do they contribute to a decrease of saliva... do you feel like you have a dry mouth? Do you smoke?

MANY MEDICATIONS CAUSE A DECREASE IN SALIVARY FLOW WHICH CAUSES RAMPANT TOOTH DECAY AND BONE LOSS. MEDICATED LOLLIPOPS LIKE FENTANYL OR ACTIQ AS WELL AS SOME OTHER ONES CONTAIN HIGH AMOUNTS OF SUGAR AND SEVERELY ERODE THE TEETH. OUR MOUTHS NEED A HEALTHY SUPPLY OF SALIVA TO CONTINUALLY BATHE OUR TEETH TO HELP PREVENT TOOTH DECAY AND PERIODONTAL DISEASE. DEPENDING ON THE INDIVIDUALS ABILITY TO BRUSH AND FLOSS,THIS PROBLEM CAN BE A HUGE CHALLENGE TO DEAL WITH.

4) How healthy/nutritious is your diet?

JUST LIKE WITH MEDICATIONS, AN UNHEALTHY DIET CAN ALSO CAUSE DECREASED SALIVA DUE TO THE CHEMICAL ADDITIVES ULTIMATELY CAUSING RAMPANT TOOTH DECAY AND BONE LOSS. SO WILL DIETS CONTAINING SUGARY FOODS, DIET SODAS, ALL SOFT DRINKS, ALL FRUIT JUICES, ACIDIC FOODS, STARCHY FOODS, STICKY FOODS LIKE RAISINS, PRUNES, DRIED FRUITS......JUST TO NAME A FEW.

Answering the above questions will give you some insight into what is necessary to maintain a healthy mouth. If your teeth and gums are continually compromised due to a variety of the above reasons, then your dental implants will also be compromised. If you are not able to alter these things, then your immune system is also continually compromised and your more likely to have RSD flareups and worsened pain from the oral inflammation. It is only fair that your dentist review all of these things with you and help you come up with a dental treatment plan that suits your individual needs.

I hope this was helpful.... I wish you all the best ....please keep us posted.
Bryanna