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Is it okay to place dental implants in organ transplant patients?
Men and women choose to undergo dental implantation because it is a simple yet effective treatment for replacing missing teeth. There are some possible side effects that are associated with the treatment, however they are rare and completely treatable. While most patients can undergo treatment with little worry, transplant recipients will need to be more cautious. A routine procedure such as dental implantation can affect transplant recipients in ways that wouldn’t affect other implant patients.
The main reason why implant recipients need to be cautious when undergoing implant treatments is infection. The use of dental implants in organ transplant patients remains controversial because of their altered wound healing and risk of serious infection. Below are some steps that organ recipients can take prior to treatment in order to reduce the chance of infection:
Pre- transplantation Considerations:
• Dental consultation prior to anticipated transplant
-Learn about the implant treatment, identify and rule out dental infectious sources
-Consult with trans-plantation physician to determine medical risk-to-benefit ratio of the implant treatment post-transplant
-Become acquainted with specific management issues such as blood products and prophylactic antibiotics that may need to be employed if treatment is rendered.
Post-transplantation Considerations:
• Observe post-transplantation period
-Most physicians will recommend up to a three-year waiting period but each case is different. Consult with both your dentist and your physician to determine how long you should wait post treatment to undergo dental implantation.
Stable Post-transplantation Considerations:
• Medical consultation with implant physician
-This will determine if patients are stable enough for implant treatments.
• Issues of immunosuppression must be recognized
-Implant patients are on immunosuppressive drugs to combat implant rejection. These should be taken into consideration when prescribing antibiotics post implant treatment.
• Consideration of special management
-Organ transplant patients may require special maintenance and management for their dental implants. Designing a schedule and regiment will ensure both dentist and patient are on top of post-implant care.
Dental implants have been very successful in those transplant patients who are stable under long-term immunosuppressions. If you are a transplant patient and are interested in dental implants, speak with your transplant physician and your dentist today to see if they will work for you.