Dental implants have been around since 1965. Because of their high costs and the fact that U.S. insurance companies don’t cover dental implant procedures, they haven’t been as popular as they should, in the States. Those looking to get dental implants have many questions, including whether they qualify for high-tech implants.
Some of our blog posts have covered many of these questions. In this post, we discuss one of the most prevalent diseases in the U.S., diabetes, and whether diabetic patients can get dental implants or not.
Before switching gears to dental implants and diabetes, it helps to refresh our memories in regards to dental implants. Like most dental-tech procedures, there are pros and cons with dental implants. Keep reading to discover why the pros far outweigh the cons!
If you haven’t yet done so, make sure to check out some of the other blog posts on our site.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that happens due to poor glucose, or blood sugar, regulation. Our bodies require glucose to survive. Glucose is the energy that allows us to move. It also provides energy to our brains. Insulin is the key ingredient that moves glucose throughout our bodies.
Although the exact cause of diabetes isn’t well known, what we do know is that genetics and environmental factors play a huge part. There are two types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes is primarily caused by the lack of insulin. When our insulin producing cells are damaged or destroyed, our pancreas can’t produce enough insulin to move glucose to the muscles in our bodies, including our brain.
Type 1 diabetes often occurs in children and young adults. Type 2 diabetes occurs in older individuals, those 45-years or older. Type 2 diabetes is more directly linked to obesity than Type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes happens the same way Type 2 diabetes occurs, insulin producing cells become damaged. The cause of Type 2 diabetes could be due to the American diet where excess processed carb based foods, like bread, are routinely ingested. Carbs turn into sugar. Without proper exercise, this sugar creates havoc with our insulin producing cells.
Diabetes can cause all sorts of issues. Check out a few below:
As of 2015, the Center for Disease Control stated that 30.3 million U.S. citizens, 9.4% of the population at that time, had diabetes. Another 84.1 million U.S. citizens had a condition called pre-diabetes, which if not treated, could result in Type 2 diabetes within 5 years.
For more information about diabetes, it’s symptoms and causes, check out the Mayo Clinic.
Dental technology allows almost anyone to get dental implants, this includes individuals with diabetes. In fact, if an individual with diabetes has lost their natural teeth due to the disease, they might want to consider dental implant surgery to replace those teeth.
There are a couple of things to consider before getting dental implants if you have diabetes. Two things must be considered for diabetes patients hoping for dental implants
Patients with bone loss due to osteoporosis or some other bone affecting condition can still get dental implants. In fact, there are two solutions to this issue. One requires a pre-implant surgery. The other doesn’t.
Diabetic patients with bone loss can get a dental bone graft surgery before their dental implant surgery. A bone graft surgery takes healthy bone tissue from somewhere else in the body and places that tissue into the jawbone.
The healthy tissue strengthens the jawbone. Once the jawbone heals, the patient is ready for dental implants. The knock against bone graft surgery is that it requires a pre-surgery. Any type of surgery requires healing. Those who get a bone graft before their dental implant surgery must wait for the pre-surgery to heal.
Since individuals heal at different times, it could take a while before the dental implant surgery.
The second solution is to get mini-dental implants instead of full dental implants. Mini-dental implants cost much less than full dental implants because they aren’t placed directly onto the bone. That’s a big benefit.
Elderly individuals with osteoporosis are good candidates for mini-dental implants. Mini-dental implants have drawbacks, for example, they don’t last nearly as long as real dental implants. But, for diabetic patients with bone loss, mini-dental implants might be the way to go.
The main reason individuals don’t get dental implants and settle on dentures is cost. Dental implants in the United States cost a lot. The cost can be around $50,000 for an All on 4. The cost for an All on 8 in the U.S. can run to $80,000.
Dental tourism was created to address all dental procedure cost concerns. The picture brightens for patients looking for dental implants in Costa Rica. For example, the average cost for an All on 4 in Costa Rica is $25,000 or less. A single arch costs $11,000 or less while an All on 8 costs $35,000 or less. That’s a lot of money, but it’s a lot less than $80,000!
Care Overseas was created to help U.S. and Canadian citizens find an alternative destination for their dental procedures. We believe that everyone has the right to affordable dental care. We provide dental tourism services from helping patients find the best dental clinic in Costa Rica to finding a place to stay while in our nation, and to even setting up tourist activities during their stay.
Head to Care Overseas now and get quote for your dental procedure. You can also call us at 866-778-2766 and we will walk you through the process. Dental care shouldn’t be stressful. Let Care Overseas help!