Diabetic dental implant. Everything you need to know about dental implant treatment for diabetics

If you have one or more missing teeth or if your prosthetic work is causing you problems, dental implant treatment may be the right solution for you.

Dental implants are a practical, effective, and safe alternative to traditional methods of replacing missing teeth, such as dentures, with a success rate of over 95%, according to studies conducted over five years.

The popularity of this treatment has grown exponentially in recent years, due to the many benefits that the dental implant has:

• Increased stability because it is inserted directly into the bone
• Prevents bone atrophy and minimizes bone resorption, conditions that can cause premature aging of the face
• Looks and works like a natural tooth
• Improves the overall health of the body.

However, the decision to resort to dental implant treatment can sometimes be conditioned by several factors, one of which is the existence of systemic diseases such as heart failure, tumours, diabetes, or osteoporosis.
 

What you need to know about dental implant treatment for diabetics

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects the body's ability to produce enough insulin or use it properly. As a result, a diabetic patient will have high blood glucose levels, which can cause several problems, including oral health.

A study conducted in 2018 on the link between dental caries and diabetes revealed that people with diabetes are more prone to caries.

As a result, diabetics are at risk of losing their teeth, especially if their daily oral hygiene routine is not followed and regular check-ups are not performed.

Diabetic dental implant. Is this type of treatment recommended?

Many patients with diabetes wonder if they can get a dental implant treatment to regain their smile.

The answer is simple: yes, dental implant treatment is a solution for diabetics.

Dental implants are not restricted to diabetics, but what is important to note is that patients with certain conditions should undergo thorough clinical and paraclinical evaluations before surgery, as is the case with any surgery.

Diabetic dental implant. What are the risks?

One of the biggest risks of dental implant treatment for diabetics is its failure.

According to medical research studies, adults patients with diabetes have a higher risk, up to 2,8 and 3,4 of confronting with parodontids diseases, and also periimplantitis appearance, which affects the bone quality where the dental implant will be inserted.

However, this does not mean that diabetic patients cannot choose such a treatment, but only that they must choose the right dental implant, the specialist doctor who performs the intervention, and the dental clinic according to their needs.

New research in implantology and digital dental technology confirms that dental implant treatment for diabetics has a higher success rate than previously thought.

According to the study, which analysed 227 implants performed on several 34 patients with diabetes, the treatment success rate was 94.3%.

Consequently, diabetics have approximately equal chances of non-diabetics in terms of the success rate of implants, the only difference being that the period required for healing after the interventions is longer, before the placement of prosthetic works.

Diabetic dental implant. Ceramic implants - the ideal solution for patients with diabetes

One of the essential criteria in a successful treatment with dental implant for diabetics patients is osseointegration, its capacity to integrate into the bone. The most suitable choice until now were ceramic implants.

The specialists of the famous company Straumann wanted to produce a dental implant that is biocompatible with the body and at the same time quickly adapts to the bone. Thus, Straumann created the SLA® and SLActive® surface for ceramic implants with superior clinical performance, even in very difficult treatment protocols and in patients with more serious conditions.

Straumann then raised the bar and developed ZLA®, a new surface for the Straumann® PURE ceramic implant, which is also used in DENT ESTET.

Thus, in the case of patients with diabetes, DENT ESTET implantologists use the Straumann SLActive® dental implant, which has a narrow diameter and attaches well to the bone, providing long-lasting resistance. Also, the SLActive® surface implant has the great advantage of contributing to rapid healing after treatment. The osseointegration period is reduced from 6-8 weeks to 3-4 weeks, accelerating tissue healing.

„The ceramic implant has greatest affinity for the biological tissue in which it is implanted, the tissue heals more easily and integrates more quickly, extremely important for people suffering from diabetes. As a doctor, if you are really concerned about your patient's health, you always seek the best solutions for them. We treat the oral cavity of patients, but the results of our treatments often have implications for the whole body” – Dr. Alexandru Georgescu, primary physician implantology and periodontology DENT ESTET.

Dental implant for diabetics - specialist advice

People with diabetes can opt for any of the existing dental implant procedures, namely All-on-4, Fast & Fixed, mini-implants, or individual implants.

For this reason, the experience of the doctor operating is a key element. A dentist certified to perform these treatments, who are constantly preparing for international courses to find innovative and safe treatment solutions for patients in special situations, will always choose a dental implant that will give him confidence and in the results of the procedure long-term.

When it comes to diabetics, it is a good idea to consult their doctor when making a decision.

Here are the tips from specialists regarding dental implants in diabetics:

• Treatment of periodontal disease, if any, before implant insertion
• Treatment of dental caries
• Removing the effects of smoking on the teeth
• Stabilization of glycemic control (HbA (1c) at approximately 7% before treatment
• Performing specialized check-ups and regular prophylaxis sessions, after the treatment.

In conclusion, if diabetes has been considered a contraindication in the past for implantation, due to discoveries in implantology and technology, but also new techniques for controlling diabetes, this treatment is increasingly common among diabetic patients.

It is important to note that in the decision to perform a dental implant treatment by diabetics, a key element is prior consultation with the specialist. The patient must understand very well what the risks are and what the success rate is depending on the specific medical situation so that maximum results can be obtained.