Dental Implants and Diabetes
Patients suffering from diabetes may wonder if they are a candidate for dental implants. Dental implants are actually one of the better ways to restore missing teeth, especially for patients with diabetes. They may require additional pre and post-operative implant care but dental implants are safe for patients with controlled diabetes as long as their overall health is also compliant with guidelines for implant patients. There are some factors to take into consideration when deciding if a dental implant should be placed. Patients with diabetes have a success rate about the same as those for patients who are completely healthy. Implant placement is a safe and effective way for patients to restore one or more missing teeth, even in patients with diabetes.
Dental implants can help patients maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet and allows patients to restore missing teeth without the negative affects that traditional dentures or other dental restorations can cause. Traditional dentures can often cause irritation and sores and even infections whereas a dental implant is permanently placed in the jawbone and allows the patient to avoid the friction caused between a denture and their gum tissue.
Dental Implants In Patients With Diabetes
One of the most important things for patients with diabetes to understand is that it is important for their diabetes to be well controlled since patients with uncontrolled diabetes have a higher risk of implant failure and post procedure infection. Patients with control diabetes do not have a higher risk of complications or implant failure than non-diabetic patients and can expect the same success rate of 95% to 97%.
Having a dental implant placed does require placement surgery and patients with uncontrolled diabetes have a more difficult time healing after surgery. Healing after implant placement surgery takes a few months for any patient but can be an even slower process for patients with diabetes. Older patients who have had diabetes for a longer time are also more susceptible to infection and typically have a longer healing process.
A dental implant is a titanium post that screws directly into the jaw bone and relies on the body's natural healing process to fuse the implant to the bone. Implant integration with the jawbone gives the dental implant the stability of a natural tooth. An implant acts as the tooth root and helps stimulate bone regeneration to prevent deterioration in the jaw.
Type 1 Diabetes vs Type 2 Diabetes
Patients with either type of diabetes may still be a candidate for dental implants but patients with type one diabetes have a higher failure rate in dental implants. Type one diabetes can be more difficult for the patient to control but your oral surgeon will be able to assess your overall health and well-being as they take into consideration your full medical and dental history. Knowing your full medical history will help them determine if you are a good candidate for a dental implant and how well your healing process will go.
Overall Health
The patient's overall health is one of the biggest deciding factors when determining if they are a candidate for dental implants or not, even if they suffer from diabetes. Patients with diabetes who are also unhealthy overall may not be a candidate for dental implants. Those with pre-existing medical conditions that compromise their ability to heal after implant placement surgery may need to consider a different option for dental restorations. Patients with diabetes can have a great success with dental implants but a few other factors that may contribute to their ability to receive a dental implant include:
- Oral cancer: patients that have been treated for oral cancer and others who have taken bio phosphate medication in the past may not be a candidate for dental implants.
- Tobacco use: smoking greatly increases the patient's healing time after implant placement surgery and the sucking action that is required to smoke a cigarette can compromise the implants ability to heal properly. Smokers may still be able to have a dental implant placed if they are able to refrain from cigarettes for up to six months (which could be a great opportunity to quit altogether!).
- Pre-existing periodontal disease: Patients with gum disease are not likely to have success with dental implants. If a patient has periodontal disease, it has to be treated and maintained in order for an implant to successfully integrate.
- Bone density: Patients with poor bone density will not have the structure required to support a dental implant. In this case, a bone graft can be placed before the implant.
Your complete medical history is vital for your oral surgeon and dentist to be aware of in order to determine if you are a viable candidate for a dental implant. Any medication that you are currently taking needs to be disclosed to both doctors during your consultation for a dental implant.
For patients with diabetes, the best diet includes plenty of fresh, whole foods which often require extensive chewing so a dental implant could be the best way for them to maintain a healthy, balanced diet. Patients who opt for traditional dentures often sacrifice healthy food options that may be difficult to chew for less nutritious choices but dental implants can be a safe way to improve and maintain a diabetes-friendly diet and lifestyle.
Patients suffering from type 1 or type 2 diabetes should speak with their general practitioner as well as their dentist and oral surgeon to ensure that they are fully informed and are aware of the risks and benefits of having a dental implant placed. Dental implants are a great way to improve your overall quality of life and improve your health!