Diabetes and Implants

At Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, people with diabetes are able to get the specialized dental care their particular needs require. People with diabetes are more vulnerable to oral infections than other people, which for a long time caused dentists to question their candidacy for implant placement. However, a new study from the American Dental Association found that people with diabetes may be able to receive this kind of treatment.

People with diabetes take longer to recover from wounds. In the past, this caused dentists to be concerned about the surgical incisions which need to be made for implants to be placed. However, the process of integration between the implant post and the jaw bone takes several months, during which the gums should heal if they are cared for properly. People with uncontrolled blood sugar are also prone to gum inflammation and inflammation tends to be associated with implant failure in a process called peri-implantitis. But the study published by the American Dental Association found that people with uncontrolled blood sugar do not actually experience implant failure at a higher rate than the general population. This does not mean that the additional risks presented by diabetes should be ignored, but if the health of the gums is maintained, implants may be a safe option.

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905-2516. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit Southern Cross Family Dentistry and fill out a contact sheet.