Diabetes and Implants

As specialists in prosthodontics, we at the Oyster Bay Family Dentists have used implants to help hundreds of people gain new teeth. This technology has made great strides since it became popular about thirty years ago and can now be adapted to people in all sorts of situations. But people with diabetes still experience some particular oral health challenges that require them to take special care of their implants, which is why we wanted to share a recent scientific review with our patients.

People with diabetes suffer from damage to their blood vessels. As a result, it often takes them longer to heal from wounds, and they have a harder time fighting off infections. Although dental implants have very high success rates, dentists were long concerned that the need to create incisions to place them would be a problem for diabetic patients. But the review found that, although it tends to take longer for diabetic patients’ jaw bones to integrate with the implant posts, they nearly always heal successfully when their blood sugar is well-controlled. The mini-implants used with dentures do not require large incisions to place, and are also a good option for people who heal slowly.

An implant will have to be removed if a patient’s gum disease causes it or the bone it integrates with to deteriorate. Diabetic patients are at a higher risk of this when their blood sugar is not controlled, but the study found that when they’re well-cared for, their implants have the same rate as success as non-diabetic people's for the first six years. After that, people with diabetes can significantly extend the life of their implants by maintaining good oral hygiene.

Drs. Denise VeyVoda and Robert G. West operate The Oyster Bay Family Dentists at 123 South Street, Oyster Bay, New York, 11771. To schedule an appointment, call 516-922-5730 or visit Oyster Bay Dentists and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Diet and Tooth Decay

Regardless of whether you have your natural teeth or artificial ones, you’ll want to protect them from erosion. Although teeth can lose enamel due to mechanical wear, it is more common for them to decay as a result of acid exposure. What a person eats and drinks has a major impact on the integrity of their teeth, so we want to make sure our patients understand how to eat for a healthy mouth.

Food and drink commonly contain acid as well as sugar, which feeds oral bacteria. The longer bacteria have to feed on sugar, the more acid they’ll produce. Citric juices, such as orange juice and tomato juice, are high in both acid and sugar, as is soda. Citric acid is also a frequent flavoring in sour candy and energy gels, making these products even more dangerous to the teeth than sweet candy and energy bars. Alcohol, red meat, and garlic and onions can also cause acid reflux, which means that stomach acid is able to enter the mouth and cause further damage to enamel and the gums.

A person with natural teeth will suffer sensitivity as their enamel decays, and tooth sensitivity should be taken seriously in patients of every age. But if a person has prosthetic teeth, they may not notice their crowns being damaged. Patients can prevent tooth decay by removing food debris quickly after eating. Besides regular brushing and flossing, they should drink plenty of water and chew sugar-free gum. They may also want to sip sugary or acidic drinks through straws and avoid eating large meals before lying down.

Drs. Denise VeyVoda and Robert G. West operate The Oyster Bay Family Dentists at 123 South Street, Oyster Bay, New York, 11771. To schedule an appointment, call 516-922-5730 or visit Oyster Bay Dentists and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Gum Abscesses

Periodontal disease is one of the most common reasons for people to need replacement teeth. We at the Oyster Bay Family Dentists offer the most advanced prosthodontic technology for our patients’ dental restorations, but they will also need treatment for gum disease. A particularly worrisome aspect of gum disease is the potential for an abscess, so we want our patients to understand why abscesses matter and how they’re treated.

Pus, a liquid made up of bacteria, acid, and dead tissue, develops as a result of infections. It accumulates in hollow spaces called abscesses, which are opened up by bacterial damage to tissue. In a person with gingivitis, the lesser form of gum disease, an abscess might form near the gum line. This is called a gingival abscess. In a person with more advanced gum disease, called periodontitis, an abscess might form between the gum wall and the root of the tooth. This would be called a periodontal abscess. The recession of gum tissue is what would allow the tooth to come loose, and if the infection is not halted, it could also cause recession of bone tissue. Warning signs of a periodontal abscess include a bad taste in the mouth, soreness, and fever.

If we suspect a patient has an abscess, we’ll conduct x-ray tests to determine its location. We can pierce and drain a gum abscess and remove the dead tissue while a patient is under local anesthetic, but we may also have to deal with infections in the tooth’s pulp or at the tip of its root. After the infected material is removed, we may smooth down the tooth root, which is known as planing, in order to make it easier for hygienists to clean in the future. This will also deprive bacteria of a place to hide in between dental visits.

Drs. Denise VeyVoda and Robert G. West operate The Oyster Bay Family Dentists at 123 South Street, Oyster Bay, New York, 11771. To schedule an appointment, call 516-922-5730 or visit Oyster Bay Dentists and fill out a contact sheet.