• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

T1 and dental implants

M

MollyBolt

Active Member
Pronouns
She/Her
I'm coming up to my one year anniversary of being diagnosed as a T1, and have to say that I resent every single thing that goes wrong with me health wise - I feel T1 is more than enough for anyone.

Anyway, notwithstanding my sorrow at the existence health problems, I have an infection in a tooth and have just been told it'll likely have to come out and I will need an implant. I was about to say that I can't think of anything worse, but that's not true - what would be worse is having an implant and then it not working because of being a T1 (and poor healing). Any sense of how likely this is? I was looking back on the forum and I see that there's advice about the hba1c being a particular level before going ahead... I wasn't due to be retested for a while but can go and get that done...
 
MollyBolt said:
I'm coming up to my one year anniversary of being diagnosed as a T1, and have to say that I resent every single thing that goes wrong with me health wise - I feel T1 is more than enough for anyone.

Anyway, notwithstanding my sorrow at the existence health problems, I have an infection in a tooth and have just been told it'll likely have to come out and I will need an implant. I was about to say that I can't think of anything worse, but that's not true - what would be worse is having an implant and then it not working because of being a T1 (and poor healing). Any sense of how likely this is? I was looking back on the forum and I see that there's advice about the hba1c being a particular level before going ahead... I wasn't due to be retested for a while but can go and get that done...
Click to expand...
I am not T1 but there is no reason why an implant should take longer to 'heal' than the extraction. I had 2 implants 13 years ago and the teeth were taken out and the site allowed to heel and then the post for the teeth were implanted, there was then a wait for them to integrate into the bone and then the teeth glued to the posts. They advised wearing a denture whilst that happened but I just couldn't tolerate it so that was a complete waste of money. It's not a cheap thing but may be cheaper now, For 2 implants with a bridge of 3 teeth even then it was £6000.
Whether you consider the implant worth it depends on where it is or would a bridge suffice.
 
I agree with @Leadinglights My main concern would be the cost! As long as you have decent control, you should be fine. I’ve never had an implant but have had wisdom teeth removed and other dental work too without any issues due to diabetes. Just follow the instructions about rinsing, etc, as you would do if not diabetic.
 
Inka said:
I agree with @Leadinglights My main concern would be the cost! As long as you have decent control, you should be fine. I’ve never had an implant but have had wisdom teeth removed and other dental work too without any issues due to diabetes. Just follow the instructions about rinsing, etc, as you would do if not diabetic.
Click to expand...
In my case it wasn't a problem with an infection but I already had a bridge but the tooth it was attached to broke and there was nothing good enough in the right place to replace it. They said the implant would integrate better to do it as soon as the extraction sites had healed. The whole process took about 4 months.
My other half tried to persuade me to go to Poland where it would have been a fraction of the cost but that just didn't seem like a good plan.
 
Shouldn't be a problem if your hba1c is well controlled (Low 50s, I think, is a recommended level.)

I was actually having treatment for gum disease when I was diagnosed as the dentist didn't want to do implants until it was cleared up. Both the gum disease and T2D diabetes cleared up at the same time! I required a bone graft on some of my gum to add bulk for the implant.

The implants were fine. The dentist screws the implant containing a thread into the gum, then makes a 3D model of your teeth for the crown to be modelled with. Once the implant has fused with the bone, a cap is screwed out and the crown screwed in place. I've had 3 follow up X-rays and happily my jawbone has grown upwards around the implants and they are very secure. Best thing I ever had done.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top