Before you get dental implants to replace your missing teeth, it’s important to recognize how your overall health can affect your candidacy for the treatment. If you have diabetes, then you may have heard that you have a higher-than-average risk of dental implant failure. But does this actually disqualify you from undergoing the surgery? Below is a closer look at how diabetes can affect your ability to get dental implants.
How Can Diabetes Increase the Chances of Dental Implants Failing?
When you have dental implants placed, they gradually fuse with the bone around them to effectively become part of your jaw. This process is called osseointegration, and it’s critical for the success of your implant posts. However, if you have uncontrolled diabetes, it can interfere with the healing process after your dental implant surgery. Consequently, osseointegration may not take place as intended, which can ultimately lead to dental implant failure.
On top of that, uncontrolled diabetes can significantly weaken your immune system, making you more vulnerable to infections in general. This includes gum disease, which is an infection of the gum tissue. Gum disease happens to be one of the most common reasons for dental implants to fail. If it isn’t treated in time, it can severely damage your gums and underlying bone tissue, causing your dental implants to lose their support.
Can You Still Get Dental Implants Even with Diabetes?
The good news is that even if you have diabetes, you can still potentially be a viable candidate for dental implants. Your dentist can determine whether or not dental implant surgery is a good fit for you after they have had a chance to examine your mouth and evaluate your overall health.
How Can You Reduce Your Risk of Dental Implant Failure with Diabetes?
If you’re diabetic, there are several precautions you should take to maximize the chances of a successful dental implant procedure:
- Manage Your Diabetes Properly: Keeping your blood sugar levels under control is critical if you want to avoid complications during the dental implant process. Your doctor can walk you through the steps you can follow to manage your diabetes, such as exercising more often or making adjustments to your diet.
- Practice Good Oral Hygiene: You should be extra diligent about brushing two times a day and flossing daily. This will help you lower your risk for gum disease and other oral health issues that can cause problems for dental implants.
- See Your Dentist Regularly: When you have diabetes, routine dental checkups and cleanings are more important than ever. These visits allow your dentist to identify and address dental problems while they’re still small. They can also check your dental implants to make sure there aren’t any major issues.
Even if you have diabetes, dental implants could still be an excellent option for rebuilding your smile. If you’re interested in getting dental implants, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with your dentist so that they can discuss your candidacy for the treatment in more detail.
About the Practice
At Kramer Dental, our team is committed to providing patients in Selbyville with high-quality dental care that is completely customized for their specific situations. Led by Dr. James K. Kramer and Dr. Paul J. Kramer, we offer sturdy, long-lasting dental implants as a way to replace any number of missing teeth. If you would like to start the process of rebuilding your smile from the roots up with dental implants, you can schedule an appointment with our team by visiting our website or calling (302) 436-5133.