Are There Any Health Conditions That Can Affect Dental Implant?

Dental implant technology has come a long way over the last few decades - many patients who once believed that they weren’t a good fit for the procedure are often surprised to learn that they absolutely can have a successful set of implants placed.

With that said, there are certain pre-existing conditions that make successful surgeries a challenge.  If you’re suffering from any of these conditions, be sure to consult with a periodontist in Los Angeles to assess your condition and help you decide if implants are right for you. 

Diabetes

Not all patients with diabetes are a bad fit for dental implants.  In fact, diabetic patients who have their condition under control tend to have relatively similar outcomes with non-diabetics.

Actually, getting implants may actually be incredibly helpful for diabetics in the long run.  The ideal diet for this condition is one with plenty of lean protein and fresh vegetables.  One of the reported benefits of the surgery is an increased to ability to eat (and enjoy) a variety of solid foods, including plenty of chicken, fish, and leafy green vegetables (perfect for someone looking to control their blood sugar.

Cardiovascular Disease

Like diabetes, cardiovascular disease isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker if it’s well controlled.  

With that said, uncontrolled cardiovascular disease can certainly have an impact on success rates by reducing your body’s ability to move blood and oxygen (critical for healing) to the affected areas. 

Cancer Treatments

Patients who are currently undergoing chemotherapy for cancer are also poor candidates for implants.  There are a few reasons for this, but one of the big ones is the fact that chemotherapy compromises your immune system.  This could potentially have serious consequences if the implant becomes infected and your body isn’t able to fight that infection.

However, this generally applies to those currently undergoing chemotherapy - patients who have completed their therapy can often still go ahead with the procedure depending on their specific situation.

Patients Taking Certain Medications

While not every kind of medication has an effect on the success of implants, there are some that can be detrimental to the healing process.

This can include certain medications which interfere with the ability of the bone in your jaw to heal and integrate the implant.  A few examples of this include certain painkillers (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for arthritis, for example).  They also include a number of SSRI’s such as Prozac and Paxil.

Smoking

While smoking isn’t technically a medical condition, it’s often an ongoing habit, and one that’s a major risk factor when it comes to failed implants.  

Nicotine is a drug that’s well known to restrict blood flow, which as we’ve already discussed is critical in the healing process.  

One of the other ways that smoking puts you at risk is by increasing the chances of an infection.  This is due to the fact that smoking can change the balance of bacterial species in the mouth, leaving you vulnerable to both infections and a host of other diseases.

What Are My Options?

If you suffer from any of these conditions and dental implant surgery is something you want to move ahead with, you may be left feeling discouraged.  

However, it’s important to reiterate that for many of these, there are solutions and workarounds.  None of these conditions necessarily rule you out as an implant candidate - it just means that your case may be more complicated and that there are other factors you need to take into account.  

Everyone’s situation is different, and a periodontist can help you explore your options.