Immediate rehabilitation of a rheumatoid arthritis patient with single-piece implants

The aim of this article is to report the long-term outcome of full mouth rehabilitation with single piece, smooth surface implants following immediate loading protocol on a patient suffering with RA and severe unilateral condylar resorption.

Here, we present a challenging case of a patient suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis who was stabilized and completed successfully with a 4 year follow-up period. Prosthetic management optimized the inter-occlusal relationship to maintain both function and esthetic integrity. Single piece implants are designed to engage and take support from the cortical bone low in metabolic activities thus promoting the force transmission through apical threads that are engaged in the cortical bone.

Rheumatoid Arthritis [RA] is an auto-immune inflammatory condition in which the inflamed and hypertrophic synovial membrane grows into the articulation surfaces. The Temporomandibular Joints [TM] are frequently involved in rheumatoid arthritis. According to the literature on RA, due to frequent periodontitis, decreased salivary secretion, medication, as well as decrease in bone regenerative potential, RA is often considered as a relative contraindication in the use of implants. Atrophic jaws and cases with comorbidities like osteoporosis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, periodontally infected cases are restored with high success by single piece smooth surface.

To the best of our knowledge, this may be the first case of immediate functional loading by bi-cortical single piece implants.