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Uncontrolled Diabetes Spells Doom for Dental Implants

by Medindia Content Team on Jan 11 2006 7:57 PM

Dental Implants are the perfect replacement of missing teeth in that patients are not subjected to the tedious job of removing them from their mouth every time they have a meal to keep them clean. These implants are fast becoming the norm rather than the exception in the fast-paced world of today.

But a new report appearing in the November/December issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry’s (AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal, says that there are certain situations where implants do not work as in uncontrolled diabetes, tooth grinding and clenching. Smoking and alcohol abuse are also adverse factors for the placement of implants within the jaw bones as they compromise the health of the bone as well as the general well-being of the individual. “You must have good bone quality and a lack of chronic periodontal disease for the implant to stay in place,” commented report lead author Judith A. Porter, DDS, MA EdD. “Patients are unaware that bone loss in their jaw will often follow the loss of a tooth. When that happens, over time, bone loss can cause facial changes and diet changes.”

An implant is called a success if natural bone grows around it thus securing it firmly in the bone and giving better service to the patient. “Implants are a good solution to tooth loss because they look and feel like natural teeth,” Kenton Ross, DMD, FAGD, an AGD spokesperson. said “They can enhance a patient’s quality of life and self-image.”


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