Dental Implant with Prednisone
Posted , 9 users are following.
The dentist discovered my tooth had rotted underneath a crown and needs to be pulled. I have the choice between a bridge and an implant to replace the tooth. The implant requires bone growth in the jaw to hold the implanted screw in place. Prednisone is a risk factor, since healing may not proceed at normal speed. Also osteopenia is a risk factor, which I have.
I haven't noticed any difficulty healing with bruises since I've been on pred (almost a year now, currently on 8 mg). I think I would prefer the implant, if my body will be able to heal and grow bone as required. Does anyone have experience with this?
0 likes, 13 replies
EileenH jeannecatlover
Posted
You haven't been on a bisphosphonate?
jeannecatlover EileenH
Posted
I was on Alendronate Sodium (Fosamax), 70 mg once weekly, for 4 weeks. It gave me bad tightness in my throat, so I discontinued it after the 4th dose. That was 7 months ago.
EileenH jeannecatlover
Posted
Even with that little I hope you mentioned it to your dentist - some get very itchy about patients who have taken even a short course having implants.
jeannecatlover EileenH
Posted
Thanks for letting me know. I didn't mention it, thinking it was long ago and only for a short time. I said I had osteopenia, and I told him the meds I'm currently on, but didn't mention the Fosamax. I'll call tomorrow and let them know, see if it makes a difference.
Diana112 jeannecatlover
Posted
Hi, I had what my doctor called a 'Maryland Bridge'. It is attached/glued onto the teeth either side and is brilliant. Very easy and I don't think any problems in fixing. Definitely nothing intrusive. Good luck
Anhaga jeannecatlover
Posted
If you aren't on any bone medications I think I'd opt for the implant, barring any other contraindications. Make sure you are taking Vitamin K2 (not K1) as that vitamin specifically directs calcium into the bones. let us know how you get on!
jeannecatlover Anhaga
Posted
How much should I take?
Anhaga jeannecatlover
Posted
I never suggest dosages as I have no medical training. I personally take two 100 mcg capsules a day. The only official sort of dosage I've heard of, I believe it's Australia, which suggests 180 mcg per day.
TheRadman jeannecatlover
Posted
I am not a dentist. In terms of your problem however the issues would be is the potential implant site upper or lower jaw given that bone stock and ease of implants are generally better in the lower jaw to start with. The titanium implant relies on osseointegration with the surrounding bone to properly become fixed in position. This is probably not a problem on 8mg of pred and is more likely to be affected by the state of the bone at the proposed site as is I would think, particularly if there has been any complicating abscess around the root. Although current trends seem to be to go for direct titanium peg placement into the socket at the time of root extraction there is an alternative school that allows time for the socket to heal and fill with better quality bone for a few months after the extraction before fitting the peg which might be an option if there is any concern about the bone condition. This was what my implant specialist opted for although I had not had any problem with an abscess in any case. It meant that I had to wait around 6 months for the procedure to be completed but the implant was fixed into well healed solid bone and well integrated by the time of attachment of the crown and hence likely to outlast me apparently. These are maybe things you could discuss with your implant specialist.
jeannecatlover TheRadman
Posted
Thanks for all that information. It's very helpful. No sign of abscess yet. I guess they would find that when they pull the tooth? It is in the lower jaw, so that sounds good. The specialist said the whole procedure would take 14 months, leaving plenty of time for bone healing and growth between stages, because of the prednisone. I'm pretty sure he said pulling the tooth and putting in the peg would not happen at the same time, though I had many things going through my mind as he was explaining. I can confirm with the office on Monday, when I have to make my decision between implant and bridge.
TheRadman jeannecatlover
Posted
Sounds like your specialist has a similar approach to mine and which has a longer period of clinical experience behind it to support the long term outcome of the procedure. You'd know if you had an abscess so that shouldn't be an issue.
Its a bit of a drag taking a year until the finished result but the results are well worth it, eventually you begin to forget you had it done.
lynda62707 TheRadman
Posted
hey radman....gonna jump in here cuz I'm so curious.
when one gets implants, are you asleep for the procedure? is there alot of pain afterwards and how long is the healing process?
when can you eat?
finally, do they not do this if you've got bone loss due to prednisone?
TheRadman lynda62707
Posted
Hi Lynda,
I can only tell you my experience which was no different to something like the root canal treatment I had before which was under local anaesthetic and really no big deal at all. The can be some pain after the titanium peg is put in needing some painkillers for a few days but I don't remember that being anything significant either. There wasn't any issue with eating at all in my case just the few months putting up with the gap whilst the socket healed and filled with new bone ready to take the peg. From what you see now being advertised it seems that in a lot of cases they can get away with sticking the peg directly into the socket following the extraction which speeds the whole thing up considerably. I don't think I would want to bite hard on it for a few weeks in that situation though.
My peg was fitted with a temporary crown for something like a month or so whilst it fixed itself into the bone and then there was a quick final visit to replace this with the permanent crown.
I can't really comment with any knowledge about the pred issue but I would be surprised if it affected bone in the jaw that much to be a problem but this is something the implant specialist will no doubt take into account looking at the xrays or scans he gets for planning the procedure.