Dental implants can be placed in patients with diabetes as long as the condition is under control. Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetics can lead a normal life provided they take certain precautions, but they require more discipline and control than type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetics.

Among the main characteristics of diabetes are a poor healing response and a predisposition to infection. However, these are not factors that prevent a patient from having an implant. The dentist must carry out a prior assessment and use a sound technique in order to achieve the desired results.
Before undergoing dental implant surgery, patients may need preparation, during which the doctor will adjust the diet and medication, as well as give guidance on controlling blood glucose levels. The dentist can also check these levels with a glucose meter, in order to avoid hypoglycaemia during the procedure. If blood glucose levels are controlled, healing can occur normally, with osseointegration, the process by which the dental implant bonds stably with the bone, taking place in the same way as in a patient in normal health.

In uncontrolled diabetics, osseointegration may be slower and impaired, as the hyperglycaemic condition makes the healing and bone remodelling process more difficult. They are also prone to post-operative infections if they are not properly monitored with broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment, which reduces the failure rate. The greatest harm is the loss of the implant, although this does not prevent a new procedure from being carried out later to place a new dental implant.
After the crown or fixed prosthesis has been placed, in addition to oral hygiene at home, it is necessary to visit the dentist every 6 months for cleaning of the teeth and gums. At these appointments, the professional also carries out follow-up monitoring by means of periapical or panoramic radiographs or tomography scans. If the diabetes is not controlled, it is recommended that these appointments take place every 3 months, in order to avoid problems in maintaining the stability of the bone and gums caused by this condition.

Dr. Luís Soares, OMD 5533