Can people with underlying disease get dental implants?
Are people with an underlying disease suitable for dental implants?
A dental implant treatment is a surgical replacement of a natural tooth root by fusing titanium piece to the jawbone. It is one of dental procedures to fix missing teeth when patients want to regain confidence, a beautiful smile or better oral quality of life without wearing dentures. In most cases healthy people can have the operation successfully.
However, some patients who have underlying medical conditions cannot have this elective surgery safely. Patients who have these diseases are recommended to see a dental doctor before undergoing the implant procedures.
The underlying diseases include;
- severe diabetes,
- head or neck cancer
- and osteoporosis
I am a diabetic, can I get dental implants?
Several medical researches disclose that patients with severe diabetes have significantly increase risks of dental implant failure. In patients with diabetes, the body cannot produce enough insulin or fails to properly use the insulin that is produced. Whenever any of this occurs, the body is unable to get sugar from the blood into the cells, which leads to high blood sugar and slow-healing wounds. The dental implant treatment involves oral surgery which then creates post-surgical wounds. If the patients receive an inappropriate post-surgical healing, their post-surgical wound gets infected. Hence, they have a high risk of treatment failure. Therefore, patients who have diabetes should consult a dentist before going through with a dental implant.
Why should patients with head or neck cancer not have dental implants?
Patients with head or neck cancer who radiation therapy to the treated area is not suitable for dental implants. There are several contributing factors to a contraindication. The radiation can cause the following side-effects:
- Redness
- Skin irritation
- Pain in the head and neck area
- Bulging of check and tongue
In addition, bones exposed to radiation may become osteopenia or osteonecrosis (bone cell death). Consequently, the patients have high risk of getting adverse effects from dental implant placement.
Why are patients with osteoporosis not advised for dental implant placement?
Dental surgery places tiny titanium posts into the treated area of jawbones. When the titanium posts are fused into the fragile jawbones, it has a high risk of failure due to jaw bone fractures and the fallen-out titanium posts
Patients with osteoporosis are a contraindication for dental implant surgery since their bones and jawbones become weak and brittle. For the dental implants, a dental surgeon places tiny titanium posts into treated area of jawbones. When the titanium posts are fused into the fragile jawbones, it has a high risk of failure due to jaw bone fractures and the fallen-out titanium posts.
When considering dental implants, it is advisable to make a preliminary conversation with a dental professional. You can share your current situation about your missing teeth, your medical history and express your concerns. Your dentist will make oral evaluation together with your medical conditions for the best possible outcome of the dental implant treatment.
What is the other alternative?
If you aren’t suitable for dental implants due to the underlying diseases, your dentist can suggest an alternative treatment that suits your condition.
- Dentures: A removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. Two types of dentures are available — complete and partial dentures.
Get the best care & advice from our dental implant experts
Book your free consultation with our dental implant expert,
- call +662-275-3599 , +669-4956-5636 (10.00 AM -8.00 PM daily) or
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