Dental Implants for an Elderly Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis taking Long-term Steroids

Dental implant treatment of the edentulous mandible was successfully performed in an 83-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis, who had been treated with steroids for over 40 years. Although a decrease in bone density was observed in the patient's jawbone and lumbar vertebrae due to steroidinduced osteoporosis, dental implant treatment was successful, with the implants remaining stable after 8 years. This result suggests that dental implants may not be contraindicated for patients with severe chronic arthritis, who require long-term steroid therapy. The patient's masticatory function can be recovered and maintained in the long term after implant treatment, even for elderly edentulous patients with osteoporosis, if dental implant treatment is performed following precise examination of the jawbone and the patient keeps the oral cavity clean.