Highlights
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an auto-immune disease that affects the cartilage and small joints of the body. Moreover, it complicates oral therapy due to the associated medication induced xerostomia, accompanying periodontitis and increasing bone-loss which may lead to peri-implantitis with surface treated implants. Hence treating these patients with conventional implants can often pose a challenge to the attending dentist, however making them excellent candidates for smooth surface single piece implants.
These bicortical smooth surface single piece implants engage into the cortical bone as well as preclude the use of bone grafts and hence can be safely placed in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients with atrophic jaws successfully.
The greatest advantages associated with these implants are that they are placed in a flapless manner with an immediate loading protocol of 72 h. This precludes the need for bone augmentation via additional surgeries as well as the increase costs associated with bone grafting procedures. It also reduces overall chairside appointments thereby making it a convenient treatment alternative for the patient.