As much as you want dental implants, you may think your diabetes is an obstacle. Wouldn’t a condition like that disqualify you from treatment? Even so, you shouldn’t be discouraged; patients with diabetes can get dental implants! You (and the treatment provider) would just have to make a few minor adjustments, thus ensuring your new teeth remain stable. If you’d like to learn more, read over this summary of the matter from your local San Diego dentist.
Remind Me: What’s Diabetes?
Before anything else, you should first review the basics of diabetes. These facts provide context for how diabetics can have successful implants.
Diabetes occurs when your pancreas fails to make enough insulin. In the latter scenario, too much glucose – also known as blood sugar – remains in your bloodstream. This elevated glucose level can cause major health problems, including heart disease, kidney disease, and vision loss.
Notably, diabetes increases the risk of dental implant failure tenfold. It can cause a patient to heal more slowly from treatment, and makes post-surgery infections more likely.
Can a Diabetic Have Successful Implants?
Despite the heightened risk, a diabetic can get successful dental implants. They’ll simply have to consider a few more factors.
The crucial point is that you control your diabetes. When this condition is well-managed, implant procedures are safe and predictable; they have a success rate similar to those for healthy patients. Only people with poorly-controlled diabetes face a much higher risk of implant failure.
Of course, you should also tell your dentist about your condition. They can take further precautions once they know you have diabetes. In fact, they may offer further suggestions for how to go about treatment.
How to Help Implant Treatment Succeed
Aside from controlling your diabetes, you can do several things to help your implant treatment succeed. These include the following:
- Keep Your Smile Clean: Since diabetics can struggle with oral health problems, practice good hygiene to reduce risks to your potential implants. In particular, brush twice daily, floss once daily, and rinse every day with ADA-approved mouthwash.
- Treat Pre-existing Oral Issues: If you suffer from pre-existing gum disease, have your dentist treat it with periodontal therapy. This procedure manages your infection and improves your odds of successful implant work.
- Get Dental Checkups Often: Make sure to attend regular dental checkups and cleanings. By doing so, you’ll give your dentist a chance to treat problems that threaten implants.
Patients with diabetes really can get dental implants, so don’t hold back. See your dental provider for an excellent restoration treatment soon!
About the Practice
Dr. Nelson Y. Howard is a dentist based in San Diego, CA, having earned his DDS from the UCLA School of Dentistry. Thanks to 30+ years in the field, he has advanced expertise in preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dental work, as well as emergency oral care. You can thus trust him (and his team) to help your smile thrive for a lifetime! Today, Dr. Howard practices at his self-titled clinic and is reachable on his website and by phone at (858)-451-0550.