Dental implants are a game-changer for those dealing with tooth loss, offering a reliable and powerful means to restore not just your smile, but your confidence too. For those with diabetes who’re looking for lost-tooth solutions, it’s common to ask if it’s even safe to get implants with diabetes?
The answer to this is yes, but there’s more to it. To help fill in the blanks, we’ll explore diabetes’ impact on oral health, address the safety of implants with diabetes, and key strategies you can use to influence implant success as a diabetic patient undergoing treatment.
Diabetes & Heightened Risk With Dental Implants
If you’ve been living with diabetes for any length of time, you’ve likely been briefed on how this condition comes with a unique set of health considerations for your heart, kidneys, eyes, and nervous system. For oral health, diabetes puts you at greater risk for developing gum disease and incurring tooth loss due to the body’s reduced ability to fight infection and heal properly when blood sugar levels are not well-controlled.
4 Factors That Influence The Success of Dental Implants With Diabetes
- The Role of Glycemic Control. Managing your blood sugar levels will have a significant effect on the success of implants with diabetes, so maintaining proper glycemic control is paramount. Upkeeping stability before, during, and after your procedure greatly increases the chance of implant survival, as it better allows for osseointegration.
- Types of Diabetes. Patients with type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, tend to have more numerous positive results than those with type 1, where insulin production is impaired.
- Diabetes Duration. Diabetes has more significant effects on your body the longer it acts on it, especially if not properly managed, decreasing the chances of a successful implant.
- Related Conditions. Diabetes is often accompanied by other health issues like cardiovascular disease or neuropathy, which complicates the healing process.
How much risk are we talking about?
A recent study found that diabetic patients have a 77.7% higher risk of dental implant failure compared to non-diabetic patients. Despite this, however, the overall success rate for implants in diabetic patients remains high. A review of studies from 1994-2011 found that the success rate ranged from 85%-100%, even in “moderately uncontrolled” cases, meaning a little care can help diabetics achieve excellent outcomes with dental implants.
What does this mean if you want implants with diabetes?
The good news is that if you have well-controlled diabetes, you can still undergo dental implant treatment with success rates that are quite comparable to those of your non-diabetic counterparts. The key here is to fully understand the above factors and how they’ll affect you, which is best achieved with the help of your endocrinologist.
How Collaborative Care Can Help Boost Your Chances of Implant Success With Diabetes
Involving your endocrinologist, a diabetes specialist, is a crucial part of developing a personalized treatment plan for implants with diabetes. Not only will their expertise help in optimizing your glycemic control, but also in assessing any and all risks specific to you and your condition. Taking a collaborative approach like this helps ensure you receive the best possible care and maximizes the chance of a successful outcome. You can optimize your chances further with:
- Preoperative Evaluation: A full rundown of your medical history and current condition paints a detailed picture of how to get started and what to expect.
- Antibiotics: Prophylactic antibiotics both before and after your procedure can reduce the risk of an infection.
- Oral Hygiene: Get meticulous with brushing and flossing, as the cleaner your mouth is, the better your results.
- Advanced Technology: Newer implants made of more advanced materials may have improved osseointegration in diabetic patients.
- Personalized Care: Our dental team will provide detailed pre- and postoperative care instructions tailored to your needs as a diabetic patient.
Maintaining Long-Term Implant Success With Diabetes
As a diabetic patient, your journey to successful dental implants doesn’t end with the initial procedure. Long-term success requires a comprehensive approach to oral health maintenance that’s been tailored to your unique needs. You’ll want to include:
- Get regular dental check-ups & cleanings. Check-ups help our team to monitor the health of your implants and gums closely. Pair these with our professional cleanings every 3-6 months, to maintain exemplary oral hygiene and prevent complications that could jeopardize your implants.
- Personalized care at home is your daily defense. We’ll provide you with tailored guidance on advanced brushing and flossing techniques (interdental brushes, & water flossers) that are specifically designed for implant care in diabetic patients.
Are There Alternative Options?
Despite the relatively high success rate of implants with diabetes, it is entirely possible to find out they simply aren’t suitable for your needs. In such cases, options like bridges or dentures may be recommended to you.
Your Smile, Your Terms
While implants with diabetes present unique challenges, it shouldn’t hold back your smile. At Implant and Cosmetic Dentistry, our experienced team understands the complexities of treating patients with diabetes. We invite you to schedule an appointment with us, and together we can develop a comprehensive treatment plan that prioritizes your long-term oral health.
