Background
Emerging evidence suggests that implant therapy may be a viable option for diabetic individuals with elevated glycemic levels.
We may be in the early stages of a good news story. My interview with Dr. Thomas Oates, Professor and Chair of the Department of Advanced Oral Sciences and Therapeutics at the University of Maryland, was about a recent study he co-authored and published in Clinical Implant Dentistry & Related Research journal, titled: Dental Implant Survival and Complication Rate over 2 Years for Individuals with Poorly Controlled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The study offers hope that diabetic patients could benefit from successful implant treatment without complications. I hope you enjoy the interview! Chiraz Guessaier, CDA Oasis Manager |
Emerging evidence suggests that implant therapy may be a viable option for diabetic individuals with elevated glycemic levels.
The purpose of this 2-year observational study was to evaluate survival and clinical complications of dental implants following placement in type 2 diabetes individuals having poor glycemic control.
Adult participants (n = 24) with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes (8.0% ≤ HbA1c ≤ 12.0%) received two or more transgingival dental implants. Survival was evaluated after 1 (23 participants, 72 implants) and 2 (20 participants, 59 implants) years. Clinical complications were evaluated in 18 participants (52 implants) after 21-34 months. Relationships between complications and stratified HbA1c levels were assessed using Pearson’s correlation test.
Survival rates were 98.6% (71/72 implants) after 1 year and 96.6% (57/59 implants) after 2 years. Complications were identified in 29% of participants with peri-implant mucositis, the most common event. Complications correlated directly with number of implants across HbA1c strata (0.42, R2 = 0.66). There was no correlation between HbA1c and the occurrences of complications or mucositis.
This 2-year evaluation supports the broader application of implant therapy in type 2 diabetes individuals with poor glycemic control in demonstrating high survival rates with limited complications.
Full Interview ( 20.47″)
These results need to be supported or challenged with controlled studies with a much longer follow up and studies that have larger sample sizes.