Individuals who have missing teeth turn to dental implants to restore their beautiful smiles. These are better than dentures because implants have a more natural look and there’s no chance of them flying out of a person’s mouth when they talk.
The success and the lifespan of your dental implants all depend on how you take care of them. Even if you floss and brush your teeth, there’s another factor that may affect their appearance and functionality: the medicines you take. Before you go to a dentist in Northfield for dental implants, Glenlake Dental Care recommends learning more about how your medication affects your implants.
Bisphosphonates
While data on the magnitude of their impact is inconsistent, medications have adverse effects on dental implants. It’s important to know what these effects are. Bisphosphonates work by removing material from bones to improve bone density.
If you’re on this type of medication, consult your dentist right away so he or she can help you with your options. Although this type of medication improves bone density, it may be harder for your body to incorporate the dental implants.
Antidepressants
People who are taking antidepressants, specifically SSRIs or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, are more likely to experience dental failure because it causes loss of bone mass.
Antibiotics
Known to impair bone growth, antibiotics, especially fluoroquinolones, may affect the healing process. The bad news is that dentists also prescribe these to control gum disease, which may also affect dental implants.
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers are commonly prescribed to those dealing with high blood pressure but they can also aid in bone formation. A recent study of 142 patients who took beta blockers and 586 who didn’t showed that the first group had a 0.6% failure rate while the second had a 4.1% failure rate.
This information is not meant to downplay certain medicines but to make people aware of their effect on dental implants.If you are taking any of these medicines, consult a physician and a dentist.
