When it comes to treating tooth loss and restoring smiles, dental implants are an excellent option for patients with missing teeth. While dental implants are very effective, not everyone is a good candidate for them. For example, people with diabetes have few risks when it comes to implants. Let’s examine how diabetes can affect your ability to get dental implants and whether it is a viable treatment option for people with diabetes.
About Dental Implants
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that are surgically embedded in the jawbone and gum tissue. During a healing process that takes months, the implant fuses with the living tissues of the mouth, allowing the implant to function like natural tooth roots.
When in place, dental implants can support individual dental crowns, dental bridges, partial dentures or full dentures. Implants do this with greater strength and stability that cannot be compared to conventional removable appliances or denture creams.
Health Risks of Diabetes
Diabetes refers to a group of metabolic diseases that affect the body’s ability to process a simple sugar known as glucose. The pancreas produces insulin, which helps regulate glucose levels. Diabetes can lead to low insulin levels leading to high and low blood sugar levels, leading to a number of different health problems including vision loss, kidney disease and nerve damage.
Some people with diabetes are more likely to suffer from gum disease and tooth loss than non-diabetics. While dental implants may seem like a great idea for diabetics with missing teeth, there are some challenges to consider.
Possible Problems with Healing After Oral Surgery
Diabetics are at greater risk of infection than non-diabetics. This is because the condition slows down the body’s ability to fight infection. This explains the increased risk of gum disease and may also explain infection after a surgical procedure. Because dental implants are placed through oral surgery, diabetics have a higher risk of infection after surgery.
Possible Risk of Implant Failure
Beyond the risks of infection, there is a possibility of dental implant failure in some diabetics whose condition is not properly controlled or monitored. In such cases, post-operative recovery may be slow or poor, meaning that the implants do not fuse with the oral tissues. In such cases, implants cannot support dental appliances.
Can Diabetics Have Dental Implants?
Yes, in many cases it can. Despite the potential challenges of diabetes, people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes can have dental implants as long as they monitor and keep their condition under control.
During the consultation process, we can advise on your treatment options for tooth loss. We’ll also cover ways you can increase your chances of success during dental implant treatment.
Discuss Your Treatment Options with Your Dentist
The best way to learn about your treatment options for tooth loss is to go to a consultation.
