Diabetes Patients: Are They Suitable Candidates for Dental Implants?
Dental implants have been without a doubt the best tooth replacement solution ever invented because they are comfortable and have a high success rate. Unfortunately for someone with diabetes, incidences of failure are common because the disease affects gums and jawbone leading to tooth loss and slow healing. However, all is not lost as there are ways diabetes patients can have successful dental implants even with all the odds against them;
Glucose control
Elevated blood glucose leads to reduced blood circulation to the gums as well as tissue damage. The first step to ensuring you are healthy enough for any surgery or dental implants is to have the blood sugar as low as possible using either insulin or diet. Once the sugar is under control, and the immunity is high, dental implants can be considered.
Proper Preparation
Diabetes causes loss of bone density and gum deterioration which are two factors that lead to dental implant failure. Though the gums and bone may be affected, a good dental practitioner will know how to treat the gum disease and perform a bone graft to create a suitable environment for implants.
Lifestyle changes
Bad lifestyle habits like overworking, alcoholism, smoking and bad oral hygiene affect not only your overall health but also your oral health. Such habits will hinder the healing process after the surgery and possibly cause an infection and dental implant failure. For a diabetic patient to have successful dental implants, they must first stop smoking, drinking alcohol and eating unhealthy foods for at least three months so that the area can heal without complications. People with diabetes also take longer to recover so they might need 10 to 12 weeks of rest or taking things slow until healing is complete.
Experienced dentist
Unfortunately, not all dentists can perform dental implants surgery on healthy people much less diabetes patients. It is, therefore, crucial to find a dental professional who deals with such delicate situations and who has great success stories and recommendations from others. The best oral surgeon will be able to prepare the affected gums and bone before the surgery and also work with the patient to
Having diabetes doesn't mean one cannot enjoy the simple pleasures of life like new tooth replacement techniques. However, special care before and after the surgery and regular monitoring are required to prevent complications. Visit a dentist if you are a diabetes patient considering dental implants so that you can determine the best way forward regarding obtaining these restorations.
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