On occasion, certain activities or medical conditions can impact a patient's potential suitability for a particular treatment or procedure. Fortunately, however, for patients who smoke or have diabetes and require dental implants, this is generally not the case.
Are Dental Implants Appropriate for Smokers?
Yes, barring any medical conditions that might complicate such a procedure, dental implants are an excellent solution for patients who smoke tobacco products.
Heavy smokers tend to suffer from oral diseases like periodontal disease and tooth decay at a greater rate than non-smokers, and replacing any severely damaged teeth with dental implants can help ensure that additional teeth are not similarly afflicted.
Smoking has been shown to cause increased post-op bleeding and slow healing. As a result, patients who smoke are advised not to smoke leading up to and immediately following a dental implant procedure. In these cases, patients must take extra precautions in follow-up care in order to ensure proper post-op healing.
Are Dental Implants Appropriate for Patients with Diabetes?
Provided their overall health is good enough to undergo surgery, patients with diabetes are excellent candidates for dental implants. However, it is worth noting that the effects of diabetes both increase the risks of tooth decay and gum disease.
An additional complication associated with diabetes is its effect on the body's ability to heal after an operation. Diabetes has been shown to cause nerve damage limiting sensation in the mouth. As a result, some diabetics feel little or no discomfort during and after a dental implant procedure and can thus be slow to recognize the effects of a bacterial infection, dry socket, or a dental abscess.
While patients with diabetes are at an increased risk of complications, those risks are mitigated dramatically among those who take good care of their diabetes, carefully follow post-op instructions, practice good oral hygiene, and get regular dental checkups.
Royal Oak Dentistry
If you're a smoker or a patient with diabetes in the Royal Oak, MI area and would like to learn more about dental implants and if they're right for you, contact dentist Dr. Suchi Chalasani and the team at Royal Oak Family Dentistry.