Oasis Resource: Osteoarthritis – Implications for Dentistry with Dr. Aviv Ouanounou

In this video, Dr. Oaunounou discusses the risk factors, pathogenesis, treatment and oral implications of osteoarthritis as well as antibiotic prophylaxis for patients with joint replacements.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis which involves the progressive loss of cartilage in the joints and affects 70% of people over the age of 65. Because this disease involves the joints, it can adversely affect our patients’ ability to maintain oral hygiene, affect the TMJ, in some instances, and may lead to adverse effects resulting from medications used to treat the disease.

The treatment of osteoarthritis includes exercise, diet as well as pharmacological agents. The goals of pharmacotherapy are to relieve pain and allow patients to continue exercising and keep their joints functioning. At this time, there are no medications that can reverse the progression of this disease. The most common medications used to treat osteoarthritis include: acetaminophen, topical pain relievers, NSAIDs, corticosteroids, opioids and hyaluronic acid.