Could Antidepressants Be Causing Tooth-Implant Failure?
Dental implants are often a dental necessity when a person loses a tooth, but these implants do fail from time to time. One strange potential contributor that may cause dental-implant failure is taking antidepressants. If you or someone you love is considering this oral-health solution, you need to understand what might be going on here.
The Connection
Dental implants are necessary when a tooth falls out, and they help you retain the shape of your jaw in a constructive way. However, several studies seem to suggest that antidepressants may play some role in causing the failure of dental implants. The exact connection hasn't been identified, but the studies have been telling.
For example, one study of 74 people who took antidepressants and received a dental implant found that 33 percent had an implant that had failed – three times higher than those who did not take antidepressants. Though there could be other mitigating circumstances leading to that kind of increase, it is a link that is worth noting.
Possible Explanations
One possible explanation for this failure may lie in the way that antidepressants increase the risk of infection. Infection is one common cause of dental-implant failure, and while no connection has been made between antidepressants and tooth infection, a link between certain gastrointestinal infections and antidepressants have been made.
Unfortunately, no study has yet been performed on antidepressants and oral infections, meaning that it is important to manage your depression safely while avoiding potential implant failure. There are a few different ways you can manage this.
Avoidance of the Problem
One potential solution for fighting this problem is to carefully quit taking your antidepressants and use behavioral-adjustment techniques, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, to find ways to manage depression. This is only a good idea if you and your doctor believe that you can handle this and that cognitive behavioral therapy or a similar treatment would work for you.
If you can't quit taking your antidepressant, you need to take extra care of your implant. For example, it is suggested that you remove 85 percent of film from your implant to keep it safe. Increasing your dental care, including purchasing high-quality toothpaste and toothbrushes, flossing, and visiting your dentist regularly can help increase your success potential.
By following these simple guidelines, you can help decrease the chance of your implant failure and improve your overall oral health. Please talk to your a dentistry such as Treasured Smiles Dentistry if you're concerned about this problem and want to learn more in-depth care techniques.