Tips for Keeping Your Children’s Teeth Healthy

Posted on: 1 July 2019

If you're seeking a long-term solution for tooth replacement, dental implants may be for you. While most people are good candidates for dental implant services, those with certain health problems or who engage in certain lifestyle habits may be at risk for complications related to their implants. Here are some conditions that may heighten your risk for dental implant complications and what you can do about them:

Uncontrolled Diabetes

While most people with well-managed diabetes are good candidates for dental implants, those with uncontrolled diabetes may not be. Uncontrolled diabetes can cause poor circulation not only in the lower extremities, but in the mouth, as well. It is crucial that circulation be optimal inside your mouth, because if blood flow is poor, the areas in which your implants have been anchored may not heal well.

Diabetes-related poor circulation may also raise the risk for yeast infections, such as candida inside your oral cavity. If an oral infection is severe and resistant to treatment, your implants may need to be removed until your infection has resolved.

Also, your dentist may recommend that you see your physician for a checkup and treatment, if needed. Once your blood sugar levels are back to normal, your circulation may improve, and your dentist may replace your implants.

Bruxism

If you grind your teeth while you sleep, you have bruxism. This condition can be caused or aggravated by stress and bite problems, however the cause is often idiopathic, meaning that no cause can be found.

If you have severe bruxism, your dentist may advise against getting dental implants until your tooth grinding is under control. The pressure that is caused when you clench your jaw may damage your implants and the bones surrounding them.

Treatment for bruxism may include anti-anxiety medications, relaxation techniques such as meditation, muscle relaxant medications, and injections of botulinum toxin. While these treatments may be effective in decreasing the incidence of tooth grinding, your doctor will need to determine the cause. In addition to stress and bite problems, bruxism may be related to acid reflux disease, sleep apnea, and adverse reactions from certain medications.

If you have uncontrolled diabetes or if you grind your teeth, work with both your family physician and your dentist. When you work with both of your healthcare providers, you will be more likely to come up with a treatment plan to control your diabetes and bruxism, so that you can enjoy the many benefits of dental implants.