Replacing missing teeth with dental implants is one of the most popular restorative methods available today. It is a highly safe and predictable procedure with excellent success and survival rates. However, patients with diabetes are known to have an increased rate of implant failure and must proceed with implants cautiously.
According to the Journal of Implantology, patients with uncontrolled diabetes are at the greatest risk of implant failure and should not have implant procedures done until their diabetes is controlled. If the patient seeking a dental implant has controlled diabetes, the procedure success rate is almost the same as healthy patients.
Three options are available to diabetic patients who are seeking dental implants. Always make sure to consult with a dentist before deciding on any dental procedure.
Single Tooth Replacement
Many patients experience only a single missing tooth that they wish to have replaced. A common method for replacement is the bridge method, which is excellent in the short term. However, for patients with diabetes, this may not be an ideal procedure as the adjacent teeth are exposed. Decay may occur more rapidly in the diabetic population resulting in the need for more dental work in the future. This works for a short term solution but should be avoided in the long term if possible.
Mini Dental Implants
The best type of dental implant for patients with a single missing tooth is mini dental implants. There is an increased risk with this procedure for diabetic patients since it is not a permanent replacement. The need for repair or replacement of the mini implant may increase the risk of gum infection. Proper gum care and monitoring are required to ensure healthy gums over the long term.
All On 4 Dental Implants
This dental implant procedure results in a full set of upper or lower teeth and is one of the most popular implant procedures. Four positioned dental implants are placed in the jaw to maximize support from existing bone structure. A benefit of this procedure is that no bone grafting is needed, which reduces recovery time. This procedure also results in minimal damage, making it ideal for the diabetic patient.
Diabetic patients have options when it comes to dental implants. It is important to assess the benefits and risks of the available procedures and determine which is most likely to be successful in each patient. Taking extra care and remembering that diabetic patients need longer to heal will help increase the success rate of these procedures.