Dental implants are not barred for people who suffer from diabetes but if you have diabetes then you should know that you are at a greater risk of implant failure as compared to others. If you have uncontrolled diabetes then you shouldn’t opt for the procedure at all, however, people with controlled diabetes often do well with implant surgeries.
The rate of dental implant failure is quite high in people with diabetes. This is mainly because people suffering from Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes might take long to heal the wound of the surgical implant. Also diabetic patients are at a greater risk of infection. And because infections like those in the gums are very common in people with diabetes, the risk of dental implant failure increases tenfold and might lead to other complications as well.
However advancements and new research in the dental implant surgical procedures now confirm that diabetic patients have a higher rate of dental implant surgery success than thought previously. According to the latest research people with controlled and uncontrolled diabetes have an equal chance of successful dental implant surgical procedures with the only difference of people with poorly controlled diabetes needing more time for implant healing before the dentures are placed.
Diabetic people can opt for any on the four types of dental implant procedures currently being done in the cosmetic dentistry field. However, proper consultation with the dentist and discussion about the success rate and failure reasons should be well understood before opting for a procedure so that maximum results can be achieved.
Safe Dental Implant Procedures for Patients with Diabetes
All On 4 Dental Implants
This is one of the most popular of the procedures. The all on four dental implant places four positioned dental implants in the jaw with a full set of lower or upper teeth. This is done so that support from the actual existing bone is maximized and there is no need for bone grafting. If a diabetic person needs all their upper and/or lower teeth replaced, this is an ideal option as there is no need to reach the bone and thus minimum damage.
Mini Dental Implants
If you have a single missing tooth, this is one of the best type of dental implant. However this is not a permanent solution and has a need for continued repair and replacement thus not a good option for people with diabetes as repair and replacement might make the gums prone to infection.
Single Tooth Replacement
This is again for a single missing tooth. However this often uses the bridge technique which is good in the short term but exposes the teeth next to the missing one to decay which in turn makes the tooth/teeth need a lot more dental work. Not ideal for diabetic patients at all.
Teeth In A Day
This procedure gets the person their new teeth in just a single day. However, we suggest that this is not an ideal option for diabetic patients as they need time to heal from one procedure before they can get the other one done.
For more information about getting dental implants if you have diabetes, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Last Reviewed By Dr. Eli Friedman on December 18, 2020
