Full-mouth rehabilitation using dental implants in a patient with scleroderma

Scleroderma is an autoimmune multisystem rheumatic condition that affects connective tissues. Oral manifestations of the disease are directly relevant to the dental and periodontal diagnosis, treatment plan, and management of patients diagnosed with scleroderma. In the presented case, progressive limitation of mouth opening together with severe caries and periodontal disease warranted a fixed implant-supported rehabilitation using dental implants. Three-year follow-up revealed good oral hygiene and clinical appearance with no radiologic evidence of bone loss around the implants. Implant-supported rehabilitation might be a viable treatment option in patients with scleroderma under chronic use of systemic steroids. Further studies with long-term follow-up are warranted. Keywords: implant failure, implant survival, systemic sclerosis, systemic steroids