Dental Care for Diabetic Patients By Louis Buono on May 07, 2016

At Garden City Smiles, Louis J. Buono, D.D.S. and his team of experienced professionals are proud to offer cosmetic, restorative, and general dentistry care of the highest standard to patients with a variety of special needs, including diabetic patients. Indeed, Dr. Buono works closely with his diabetic patients to ensure that a rigorous at-home oral health regimen and routine visits to his practice for comprehensive screenings and cleanings are integral parts of their diabetes management programs.

In providing dental care for diabetics at his Long Island, NY practice, Dr. Buono takes the time to sit down with each individual patient to discuss his or her health and medication history, lifestyle, diet, and dental routine. He then performs a meticulous oral exam, including a thorough screening of the gums, which tend to be a problem area for diabetics. Finally, he presents the patient with a personalized treatment plan that will restore the mouth to optimal health and maintain that health for a lifetime.

If you have diabetes or love someone who does, we want to partner with you to provide the exceptional dental care you or your loved one needs. Please contact Garden City Smiles today to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Louis J. Buono.

What Are the Unique Needs of Diabetic Dental Patients?

People with diabetes are more vulnerable to a variety of health problems, including oral health problems. These include:

Gum Disease

Several clinical studies have shown that diabetics are more susceptible to gum disease than the general population. There are a couple of theories as to why this might be. For one, diabetes may weaken the mouth’s ability to fight the bacteria that causes gum disease. For another, diabetes causes high blood glucose levels, which could contribute to the progression of gum disease once it has begun.

What is well known is that uncontrolled diabetes and untreated gum disease tend to feed off one another. By contrast, if you seek treatment for gum disease, it can help you to control your diabetes, which in turn can help you to avoid further gum disease. In other words, you can turn the vicious cycle into a healthy cycle if you are determined to do so.

Oral Thrush

Oral thrush is an infection of the mouth. The most common symptom of oral thrush is the appearance of white, often painful lesions on the inner cheeks and the tongue. Diabetics face an increased risk of oral thrush.

Tooth Loss

Diabetics lose their teeth at a much greater clip than the general population. Not coincidentally, the most common cause of tooth loss is gum disease.

Dry Mouth Syndrome

Diabetics are highly susceptible to dry mouth syndrome, a byproduct of a difficulty among diabetics to remain hydrated. Dry mouth syndrome is linked to an increased risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and oral infections.