With each passing day, Nureen (name changed), a 52-year-old homemaker, found it more and more embarrassing to go out. Her teeth were becoming loose, and she had already lost a couple in a matter of months. She avoided many of her favorite foods because she could not bite or chew them. Finally, as her health and teeth deteriorated, her children insisted she see a dentist. As per her dentist’s suggestion, Nureen decided to get dental implants from the best implantologist in Bengaluru, Dr. Sudhakar Reddy.
Dr. Sudhakar Reddy. K, Oral & Maxillo Facial Surgeon and Implantologist at the Dental Implant Studio in Bengaluru, advised Nureen to have her sugar levels checked prior to receiving dental implants. Diabetes slows the healing process, which can have an adverse effect on the osseointegration of the dental implant into the jaw bone. Diabetes increases the likelihood of dental implant failure. Therefore, Dr. Reddy always prefers to conduct a comprehensive health checkup on all his patients prior to performing dental implant surgery.
“Diabetes is a very common condition among people who come to me for a dental implant. This is because diabetes is a lifestyle disease that increases the risk of gum disease, which can lead to loose teeth,” explains Dr. Reddy. Many of these people are concerned that because they are diabetic, they will be unable to obtain a dental implant. “However, what they fail to understand is that placing a teeth implant in a diabetic patient is the same as doing the procedure in a non-diabetic patient,” says Dr. Reddy. “We simply need to take a few precautions before beginning the implant procedure.”
The health checkup revealed that Nureen was diabetic, so Dr. Reddy could not do her dental implants right away. “Normally, getting a dental implant involves no risk or complication. However, if a patient is diabetic, I must first ensure that their blood sugar levels are within an acceptable range before proceeding with the procedure,” he explains. This is done to ensure that postoperative healing is not hampered and that there is no risk of infection at the implant site.
“When I was told that getting dental implants was contingent on my blood sugar levels, I focused all of my efforts on managing my diabetes. With the help of insulin injections and diet control, I was able to bring my sugar levels under control in a short period of time,” Nureen says. Dr. Reddy could now proceed with Nureen’s dental implantation because her diabetes was under control. He chose traditional basal implants for Nureen because they had a high success rate and could be used safely in diabetic patients.
Diabetic patients who are on medication and maintain acceptable blood sugar levels can get dental implants. Indeed, with improved chewing and biting abilities provided by dental implants, diabetic patients can eat a more balanced diet, allowing them to better manage their diabetes. “If you have diabetes and want to replace missing or loose teeth, dental implants are the best option. It will improve your appearance while also assisting you in maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” Dr. Reddy assures.