Effect of Glycemic Control on the Incidence of Dental Implant Complications in Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Purpose: This retrospective cohort study aimed to explore the impact of glycemic control on the survival of dental implants and the rates of post-loading complications in patients with well to fairly well-controlled diabetes. Although diabetes is acknowledged as a relative risk factor for dental implants, few studies have investigated the incidence of complications or implant survival in individuals with treated diabetes.

Materials and Methods: A total of 128 patients with 347 implants were enrolled. Patients and implants were grouped into two categories based on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values in the pre- or postoperative period within two months: < 7% (well-controlled group) and 7% to < 9%(fairly well-controlled group). Comparative analyses included cumulative survival rates (CSR) and the occurrence of biological and technical complications between the two HbA1c levels.

Results: After six years, implant survival was 98.0% in the well-controlled group and 98.8% in the fairly well-controlled group, with no statistically significant difference observed between the two groups (p = .853). The higher HbA1c level group exhibited a greater incidence of soft tissue complications than the lower HbA1c level group (p < .005).

Conclusion: Implant therapy demonstrates predictability and satisfactory survival rates in patients with controlled diabetes. However, individuals with higher glycemic levels are more susceptible to soft tissue complications and bone loss following implant therapy.