Are You Afraid to Go to the Dentist?

About Me

Are You Afraid to Go to the Dentist?

Welcome to my website. My name’s Linda, and I’m going to share about my phobia for dental procedures. I didn’t fear the dentist when I was a child. My parents started taking me to the dentist when I was a toddler. I visited the dentist diligently until about ten years ago. I was in my early forties when my dental work became more than fillings. I had to have two root canals, and while the procedures went smoothly, I panicked. There was something about being in the chair and having my mouth open for that long that sent me into a panic attack. Since then, I have struggled with going to the dentist. Until recently that is. I found a wonderful dentist who uses mild sedation and is extremely gentle and understanding. I’m excited to share more about this in the hope that my story will help you.

 

How To Prepare For Dental Implants If You Are Diabetic

30 April 2017
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

Share

If you have diabetes there are special considerations if you are thinking about having dental implants. While diabetes will not disqualify you from getting them, you may need to wait a while before you can have them implanted. Here are a few things you can do to get the beautiful smile you have always wanted.

Control Your Diabetes

Whether you are insulin-dependent, take oral medications, or control your blood sugar by diet and exercise, it is important that you keep things under control. If your glucose levels have been up and down, talk with your doctor and work to get them to as close to normal as possible. Wait a few months and have your A1C checked to ensure your glucose levels are being properly controlled. If your sugar levels are high or get high often, your gums may not heal properly and the implants will not stay secure. In addition, you could have more pain, and your gums may stay inflamed around the implant site.

Medications

If you are on any type of medication to control diabetes, it is important that you discuss the upcoming procedure with your primary care physician. Ask him or her how you should handle your medication the day of the procedure. If you are told to miss a dose of oral medications, be sure to ask how soon after the procedure you should take the next dose. You will also need to ask how to adjust any insulin around the appointment. It will be important that you monitor your blood sugar level just before any sedation medication is administered. If your glucose is not within normal limits you may have to take the insulin and wait for the procedure or have it done with a local anesthetic.

Dental Care

Because you want to make sure your gums heal as quickly as possible after having the implants, you need to ensure that they are healthy before the appointment. Have your teeth cleaned and any cavities filled before having the implants. This will reduce the risk of any bacteria getting into the surgical incisions. Remember, diabetics tend to heal slower than a person without diabetes.

Do not give up the idea of having dental implants just because you have diabetes. Your primary care physician and dentist can help you get your health and mouth prepared. You need to take extra care of your glucose levels and your teeth to ensure the procedure goes smoothly and you have a safe and quick recovery.