3 Health Conditions That Can Complicate Dental Implant Surgery
Dental implant surgery will not only enhance your smile, but it may also help eliminate problems with chewing, an uneven bite, and maybe even jaw pain. Even though most people sail through their implant dentistry procedures, those who have certain medical conditions may need to be extra careful. Here are three health conditions that may complicate dental implant surgery, and what you can do about them:
Diabetes
While you can still consider getting dental implants if you have diabetes, you need to first make sure that you have tight control over your blood glucose levels. When diabetes is poorly managed, complications such as sluggish wound healing, capillary damage, and oral yeast infections can develop.
Before making your appointment for your implants, visit your primary care physician for a diabetic check up. If you are having trouble keeping your blood sugar levels within normal limits, your doctor may change the dosage of your insulin or oral anti-glycemic medication.
You may also be advised to lose weight, exercise more, adhere to a diabetic diet, and keep stress to a minimum. After your physician determines that your diabetes is under control, your dental implant surgery can be scheduled.
Platelet Disorders
If you have a blood platelet disorder such as thrombocytopenia, you may be advised to avoid any type of elective surgery until you have undergone treatment. Thrombocytopenia and other abnormalities of the blood platelets can lead to abnormal, and even dangerous bleeding during dental procedures.
If you notice any unusual bruising, or if you have nosebleeds, bleeding gums, blood in your urine or stool, or if you feel lightheaded or dizzy, you may have a blood platelet problem. Sometimes, platelet disorders are temporary and can develop during a viral or bacterial infection.
Even a cold or the flu can cause the number of platelets to decrease, however, once your infection has cleared, your platelet count may return to normal. After your lab work reveals a normal platelet count, you can then schedule an appointment with your dentist to begin your implant procedure.
Autoimmune Disease
If you have an autoimmune disorder you may not tolerate dental implant surgery as well as someone who does not have one. When autoimmune function is compromised, you may be at a heightened risk for slow healing, increased bleeding, infection, and dry mouth. If your salivary glands fail to produce enough saliva, which is a common symptom of a few autoimmune disorders, you may develop an oral infection.
Adequate salivary flow is important because it washes away infection-causing microorganisms. If you have an autoimmune condition and suffer from a dry mouth, talk to your dentist about recommended a moisturizing enzyme-based oral rinse to help keep your mouth healthy enough to undergo implant surgery.
If you have any of the above conditions, work with both your dentist and physician. When both disciplines are involved in your plan of care, you are more likely to enjoy an uneventful recovery after your dental implant procedure.
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