Diabetes is a disease that interferes with the proper functioning of many organs of the human body, including the mouth.
In particular, this condition can exacerbate oral problems, such as gingivitis or periodontitis.
Given the relationship between oral health and diabetes, many patients wonder if they can have dental implants.
To solve all these doubts, in this article we are going to explain the relationship between this disease and dental implants.
What is diabetes mellitus?
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by the presence of permanently high concentrations of glucose – sugar – in the blood.
This alteration is the result of a defect in the production or utilization by the human body of the hormone called insulin.
The organ in charge of producing insulin is the pancreas, which also regulates blood glucose levels, allowing it to enter the cells to supply the body with energy.
Without the effect of insulin, the body does not absorb glucose properly and it remains in the blood.
It is precisely these high blood sugar levels that lead to a series of complications in the health of our mouth.
Type 2 diabetes
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DIABETES
Types of diabetes
Once we have explained in general terms what the disease consists of, we are going to explain the three types of diabetes that exist:
Type 1 diabetes: occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
Type 2 diabetes: this is the most common form of diabetes and, unlike the previous case, in this type of diabetes the ability to produce insulin does not disappear.
However, the body acquires glucose by developing peripheral insulin resistance due to excessive sugar intake.
Gestational diabetes: some women develop this type of diabetes during pregnancy, although it is a condition that usually disappears after delivery.
A person with diabetes can have dental implants as long as the disease is properly controlled.
The incidence of diabetes in Spain
According to the latest data published by the Spanish Diabetes Society (SED), 13.8% of people between 18 and 60 years of age have type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Although this figure is high, it is even more worrying if we focus on those over 60 years of age.
The fact is that 29.8% of women and 42.4% of men between 61 and 75 years of age have type 2 diabetes.
In the case of Spaniards over 75 years of age, the percentage is more alarming among women, since 41.3% are diabetic, compared to 37.4% of men.
This data, together with the fact that there is a bidirectional relationship between diabetes and oral diseases, explains why people tend to have more oral problems as they get older, together with other factors.
What complications does diabetes produce?
People with diabetes experience different alterations in their organism as a consequence of the excess of sugar in the blood.
In the long term, and if the disease is not properly controlled through medication, these patients put their health at risk.
In particular, the organs most affected by diabetes are the brain, the kidney and the retina.
But in addition, and this is the reason that connects this disease with implants, is that diabetes hinders wound healing.
Dental implant
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DENTAL IMPLANTS
The relationship between diabetes and dental implants
As we pointed out, diabetes can involve numerous inconveniences in a person’s day-to-day life, but there are three factors that are important to us when talking about implants:
Its relationship with periodontal diseases (gingivitis and periodontitis).
On the one hand, having diabetes increases three times the risk of pyorrhea if there is no medication to keep the glycemic level at bay.
On the other hand, periodontal disease makes blood glucose control more difficult.
Longer healing time of lesions or wounds.
After implant surgery, a crucial step must take place: osseointegration.
This is the process through which the screw is completely fixed to the dental bone and which ensures the correct fixation in the long term.
Diabetics may have a higher rate of infection and non-osseointegration after certain dental treatments.
For example, after the extraction of a molar tooth or after the placement of dental implants.
Dental hygiene problems due to lack of saliva
Oral cleanliness is the basis of the health of our mouth and what ensures, to a large extent, the success of almost all dental treatments.
Saliva has an important function in the mouth, as it helps to keep it hydrated and prevents the accumulation of bacteria.
After implant placement, it is especially important to maintain thorough hygiene routines, and sometimes diabetes can cause dry mouth.
Prioritize your oral hygiene
After implant placement, a good oral hygiene routine is essential, but it is even more important for people with diabetes.
If I have diabetes, can I have dental implants?
As you can see, diabetes can affect the health of our mouth if it is not controlled by proper medication.
But as far as the placement of dental implants is concerned, the truth is that there are no studies that solidly prove that it is incompatible with the disease.
Thus, as long as the diabetes is controlled before starting the surgery, there is no reason why there should be a higher risk of failure.
That is, when the patient is diagnosed with diabetes and follows a treatment supervised by a physician.
In this type of case, the treatment success rate is similar to that of patients without diabetes, around 97%.
Oral hygiene with diabetes
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ORAL HYGIENE
What precautions should a diabetic patient who has implants take?
As we have pointed out above, the most important thing is that the diabetic person has the disease under control before undergoing implant treatment.
Since these are people who are more likely to have complications due to periodontal disease, it is important to prevent any problems.
To prevent infections and help healing, the dentist may prescribe a higher dose of antibiotics for a longer period of time.
Generally, the antibiotic will be started during surgery and should be maintained for another week to ten days.
After the intervention, the implantologist will again be the professional in charge of determining the next steps in the treatment and the care to be followed by the patient.
DO YOU NEED A DENTAL IMPLANT?
But, in addition to the precautions that must be followed during the surgical procedure itself or the postoperative period, the care must persist in the patient’s routine life.
For example, one of the most important guidelines is to maintain good oral hygiene.
In this way, tartar will not accumulate on teeth and gums. And thus, caries will not appear and the risk of periodontal disease will be avoided.
The most important thing is hygiene at home together with the check-ups prescribed by the dentist.
To ensure better oral hygiene, it is advisable to use utensils such as interproximal brushes and dental irrigators.
A person with diabetes can lead a completely normal life, but without forgetting that the disease can manifest complications at the level of the organism and the mouth.
