Did you know that November is American Diabetes Month? At Dr. Dipika Shah’s Holmdel dental office, we’ve worked for years to help our patients understand how diabetes complicates oral health. This month, we want to focus on how orthodontics, in particular, is affected by diabetes.
People with diabetes are particularly vulnerable to gingivitis and periodontal disease. When periodontal disease goes untreated, it damages the jaw bone that supports your teeth and gums, allowing teeth to migrate. This kind of damage can influence poor results with orthodontics, braces make oral hygiene more difficult. For a diabetic person with uncontrolled periodontal disease, this becomes poor choice of treatment. On the other hand, Invisalign does not create additional challenges to oral hygiene. The aligners may be removed and the patient can brush and floss normally. Invisalign also puts gentler pressure on the teeth, which is preferable for diabetic patients. Everyone may not be a candidate for Invisalign but if the patient’s blood sugar is kept under control and they adhere to oral hygiene practices, they can still receive treatment with braces or Invisalign. Once treatment starts, your follow up visits, will give us an opportunity to ensure the patient’s teeth and gums are still healthy.
Dr. Dipika Shah, Master in the Academy of General Dentistry, operates at 723 N Beers St, Suite 2F, Holmdel, New Jersey, 07733-1512. To schedule an appointment, call 732-264-8180 or visit DentistNJ.com and fill out a contact form.
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