Can I have tooth implants?

[Marc]

Hello

I recently lost one of my teeth because it became decayed and broke down. My dentist said that the tooth was so bad that it was better to remove it and he extracted it. I have decided to have a titanium tooth implant to replace my lost tooth.

My only concern is that I suffer from type 2 diabetes (diagnosed five years ago) and wonder if tooth implants would cause problems in my case.

[Dr Vahid Motahar]

Hi Marc,

Thank you for your post.

There is no reason for you not to have a tooth implant and replace your missing tooth with a dental impalnt.

I understand you have some concern with it because you suffer from diabetes which is insulin independent and quite rightly so. people who suffer from diabetes of any type, they have delayed healing and wounds do not heal as fast as they should. There is a bit of surgery involved in implant placement and there may be some delayed healing or reduced chance of full oseointegration of the implant to the bone.

However there is no need for concern as long as your diabetes is well controlled and stabalised. You could have almost as good a success rate with your implant as other people.

[Dr Mohsen J. Esfahani]

As long as Diabetes (Type 1 Diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes) is well controlled and you don't suffer from active gum disease and you don't smoke, then placing implants should not be a problem.

Diabetic patients can suffer from delayed healing post implant surgery and any post-surgery complications will have to be managed. So its important that you find an experienced implant surgeon.