Dental Implants and Diabetes
If you have diabetes, you may have heard that you cannot get dental implants to replace missing teeth. While certain precautions must be taken, this is not the case, you certainly can get dental implants if you have this disease. The increasing prevalence of diabetes is a global public health problem. As more and more people develop this disease, we get more questions about whether or not diabetics are able to get implants. The short answer to this question is yes, absolutely diabetics can get dental implants. However, some precautions must be taken
What is diabetes?
It is a disease that affects the body's ability to produce or use insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas whose job it is to control the level of glucose, or sugar, in our blood. This is important for our health. Glucose is the body’s source of energy, but too much of it in the bloodstream can cause many health problems. There are two main types of the disease: type 1 and type 2.
Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, but it occurs most frequently in children and adolescents. In people with this type, the body produces very little or no insulin, which means there is a need for daily injections of the hormone to keep blood glucose levels under control. Type 2 diabetes is more common in adults and is more prevalent in the population. In this case, the body does not make good use of the insulin it produces. Controlling type 2 is directly linked to a healthy lifestyle, with an adequate diet and regular physical exercise. Still, however, most people in this group need oral medications and/or insulin to keep their blood sugar levels adjusted. Above all, the disease requires strict control, as, in the long term, high glucose levels can cause serious complications, affecting other organs, such as the heart and arteries, kidneys, eyes and nerves, among others.
How should diabetic patients be cared for?
Our first action when a patient needs a dental implant is to take a thorough history. When we take this history if we notice that there is any chance that the patient has diabetes. If the patient has diabetes, we make sure firstly that it is stabilized and under control. Even when the disease is stabilized, it is essential that we carefully evaluate the patient’s clinical condition. WE need to know the type (1 or 2); the stage at which the disease is; whether it is controlled or not and what the glycated hemoglobin value is (this test identifies the blood glucose level over prolonged periods). This way, it will be possible to predict and manage likely unfavorable developments in the placement and use of dental implants. As part of taking your medical history, we will also want to know what medications you might be taking to control the disease.
What precautions should diabetics take regarding implants?
If we determine that you are a healthy enough candidate for implants, we will perform the procedure. After implant placement, care is the same as for those who do not have the disease. In other words, the patient must pay attention to oral hygiene, use prescribed medications, rest as much as possible in the first 48 hours after the procedure, as well as pay attention to eating only soft foods afterward as part of their aftercare.
After completion of treatment, periodic office visits should be scheduled. This maintenance of the implants, in fact, is identical to what should happen when the teeth are natural; brushing and flossing and maintaining overall good oral hygiene. Especially for diabetics, this recommendation is even more essential. Some research indicates that those who suffer from this condition may need additional monitoring, due to a greater risk of inflammatory processes in the oral cavity.
Implants bring a better quality of life to people with diabetes
That's right! Not only are dental implants safe for diabetics, but they can also improve your health and quality of life.
Many doctors recommend dental implants for diabetics in order to prevent the disease from worsening. This is because poor chewing caused by the lack of dental elements favors a diet more based on carbohydrates (which are soft and easily swallowed), which ends up raising blood glucose levels and impairing disease control. Foods that require a more vigorous bite, such as nutritious vegetables rich in fiber, can become difficult to swallow.
And there's more: compared to implants, dentures are prosthetics that are much more likely to move, causing sensitivity in the gums and possible wounds in the oral cavity. When this occurs, people suffer from irritation and discomfort and usually start to eat less or select foods that are not nutritious. Result: the condition has a very negative impact so that it is almost impossible to keep blood sugar under control!
But don't worry, it's possible to reverse this story. By correcting chewing function with dental implants, the individual can adopt a healthier diet, rich in proteins, vegetables and legumes. And, consequently, blood glucose becomes more easily controlled. So, in addition to helping patients maintain a balanced diet, as we said previously, implants eliminate the risk of injuries and inflammatory processes, which frequently occur when using removable prostheses such as dentures.
In Conclusion
Dental implants are considered the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. Not only do they help a patient regain or strengthen their ability to eat healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, but they also help maintain the overall health of their mouth, which is important for everyone, not just diabetics. Implants can help you speak, chew, and maintain oral hygiene more effectively and comfortably. Implants also help preserve the integrity of your facial bone structure as well. If you are diabetic and considering implants, don't hesitate to get in touch with us. We will take great care to make sure you are healthy enough for implants and give you all that you need to help make sure the procedure is a complete success!
