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Dentist diabetic care

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Lauras87

Lauras87

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
I'm finally getting registered with a dentist in Leeds.

They've said being seen every 6 months is wrong due to the complications diabetics get (do we really get complications? I wouldn't know!)

They say correct dental care for a diabetics is every 3 months for a scale & polish & having a look at gums.

Anyone else heard that?
 
Hey Laura
have never heard anything about having to go every 3 months....my sceptical side cant help but think its a money making ploy...🙂

I went last week and was told that if you have HIGH BGs it can complicate / increase your risk of getting gum disease - a statement which I admit I had never heard before.

I think going every 6 months is absolutely fine ! 🙂 (if not even once a year..)
 
Cleo

I hate the dentist with a passion even more so after I saw the emergency dentist who said I had unnecessary work in my mouth.

So the thought of 4 visits a year fills me with dread.

But my control is tight but still have the odd dental problem

Maybe it's just that practice's policy with diabetics
 
I was initially going every six months and then my practice said I only needed to go every 10 and then they cancelled that appointment as they had done all their NHS treatment for the year.....

I have never heard anyone say 3 months.
 
No they're pulling a fast one! 🙂

My son's dentist is actually very good and did some research for us on the diabetes side of things. People with diabetes are not more vulnerable to tooth decay than others, but infections and gum disease may be more troublesome, ie take longer to clear up if blood sugars are high/uncontrolled (think this is true of any type of infection). But if you have persistent sore or bleeding gums you would take yourself to the dentist, not wait for a scheduled appointment!

I was worried about the effect on his teeth of treating night time hypos (drinks lucozade)- dentist said not to brush teeth after, as this would be brushing the sugar and acids into the surface of the teeth, therefore better to just rinse with water. She recommended (for all people, not just people with diabetes) brushing teeth before breakfast, so they are free of plaque-causing bacteria before any food comes into contact.
 
From research it seems it's down to the dentist to decide on how often you go :(
 
I only go every six months. However, I do have gum disease, which means I have had to have a few teeth out recently. I would have said six months is enough unless you are getting problems.
 
My dentist has put me on 12 monthly.

From what he told me, high blood sugars can lead to gum disease. Possibly its connected to the general way in which high blood sugars can damage your body.

The fact I'm on a general type 2 avoid lots of carbs type diet (which means I'm also avoiding sugar) is helpful for my teeth.
 
Mark T said:
My dentist has put me on 12 monthly.

From what he told me, high blood sugars can lead to gum disease. Possibly its connected to the general way in which high blood sugars can damage your body.

The fact I'm on a general type 2 avoid lots of carbs type diet (which means I'm also avoiding sugar) is helpful for my teeth.
Click to expand...

My current dentist doesn't have a clue about diabetes & said sweets & lucozade shouldn't be taken for hypos

My last hba1c was 6.8 & they are always under 7 so control isn't the issue I feel
 
Lauras87 said:
From research it seems it's down to the dentist to decide on how often you go :(
Click to expand...
There seems to be a bit of a conflict between the dentist's policy and the practices policy I've found.

My dentist practise has a policy of calling you in every 6 months, but the dentist himself has been known to say "Oh make it 9 months". (he isn't the practice owner either, just the hired hand)

Before my current dentist, the one I had liked to have me in for a scale and polish each and every time (she was also a bit heavy handed, so I was glad when they got the new dentist).

I guess the real question is, what happens if you ignore and only do 6 months or more?
 
Mark T said:
There seems to be a bit of a conflict between the dentist's policy and the practices policy I've found.

My dentist practise has a policy of calling you in every 6 months, but the dentist himself has been known to say "Oh make it 9 months". (he isn't the practice owner either, just the hired hand)

Before my current dentist, the one I had liked to have me in for a scale and polish each and every time (she was also a bit heavy handed, so I was glad when they got the new dentist).

I guess the real question is, what happens if you ignore and only do 6 months or more?
Click to expand...

I'm thinking of seeing about going every 3 months & seeing if my gums improve (I have a dull ache in my gums from having a wisdom tooth pulled out)
 
I currently have a dental check every 6 months and polish and scale every 3 months... very expensive...
 
Newtothis said:
I currently have a dental check every 6 months and polish and scale every 3 months... very expensive...
Click to expand...

Agreed!! It's like ?70 :'(
 
That dentist wants you to pay for their recent house extension me thinks.

I recently got back on board the dentist thang, used to go every year or so and sometimes go to see the hygenist inbetween, so effectively loose money to them every 6 months or so. The new crew say see dentist every 6 months (nowt to do with having a great medical condition!) but they do a polish too like in the good old days so no need to see hygenist for a telling off unless I want to (loose more money), so I'd say 6 monthly is more thangood enoughm I'd be tempted to only go 12 monthly to be honest.
 
rossi_mac said:
That dentist wants you to pay for their recent house extension me thinks.

I recently got back on board the dentist thang, used to go every year or so and sometimes go to see the hygenist inbetween, so effectively loose money to them every 6 months or so. The new crew say see dentist every 6 months (nowt to do with having a great medical condition!) but they do a polish too like in the good old days so no need to see hygenist for a telling off unless I want to (loose more money), so I'd say 6 monthly is more thangood enoughm I'd be tempted to only go 12 monthly to be honest.
Click to expand...

I'd only go once a century if I had my way

Great medical condition? Which ones that? 🙄
 
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