Dental implants provide a long-lasting solution for missing teeth. They look and feel natural. And they function better than other forms of tooth replacement. But are they an option if you have diabetes?

Why the Concern About Dental Implants and Diabetes?

Diabetes

Uncontrolled diabetes can affect your body’s ability to heal. High blood glucose levels can cause other medical complications, including:

• Reduce the body’s immune response
• Increase the risk of infection, including periodontal (gum) disease
• Delay healing

How are these factors related to dental implants?

Dental implants

Before you receive dental implants, your gums need to be healthy. Additionally, implants are surgically placed in your jawbone. Sometimes bone grafting is required before you receive them. Proper healing is vital for dental implants to be successful.

Surgery – A dentist who is trained in implantology or an oral surgeon can replace your missing teeth with dental implant fixtures—artificial tooth roots. A root form serves as an anchor for a dental crown, or cap. Two or more implant fixtures can be used to support a denture. It takes three to four months for implants and your jawbone to fuse together and heal. The result is a solid foundation for your replacement teeth.

Bone grafting – If you have begun to experience jawbone shrinkage in the areas where teeth are missing, bone grafting might be needed to ensure your implants have enough support. The grafts will need to heal for about three months before you receive dental implants.

But will diabetes prevent you from receiving implants?

What Does Research Show?

In a study published in the May 2019 issue of the Journal of Oral Implantology, researchers reviewed 118 published studies on dental implants for patients with diabetes. The findings show that diabetes does not affect the implant success rate. But it can increase the risk of marginal bone loss (resorption of bone around the dental implant). Still, with proper planning and care, most patients with diabetes have a successful outcome.

Are You a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

If you’re thinking about getting dental implants, let your dentist know that you have diabetes. He or she will review your medical and dental history to ensure you’re a candidate for this form of tooth replacement. If you are, your dentist or oral surgeon will ensure your implant surgery is well planned for and performed at the optimal time to promote healing. Your dentist will carefully monitor your implants throughout the healing process.

How Can You Help?

Some of the things you can do to help control your diabetes and contribute to the success of your dental implants include:

• Follow your doctor’s instructions for monitoring and testing your blood glucose level.
• Take your medication as prescribed, but tell your doctor about any uncomfortable or unusual side effects.
• Ensure you get adequate nutrition and regular exercise.
• Keep your regularly scheduled appointments for dental cleanings and exams.

If you have diabetes, dental implants can still be an option for making your smile healthier and more attractive—for a lifetime.

Finding the Right Dentist

Your smile and your oral health are worth taking time to find the right dentist for your case. Search online to find dentists who have extensive post-graduate training in implantology and who have successfully completed many implant cases. Consider scheduling consultations with at least two dentists to discuss your concerns and to learn what each dentist does to help patients with diabetes have a successful outcome with dental implants.

 

This post is sponsored by Michael Szarek, DMD of Lowell, MA.