Implants in patients with type 1 diabetes: what the evidence shows
Updated: 6 days ago
60 Second Journal, Vol. 1. For colleagues.
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are often grouped together when planning implants. The evidence suggests they should not be.
Key findings
A meta-analysis of 89 publications found implants in diabetic patients had higher failure odds than in non-diabetic patients (OR 1.78).
Failure was more likely in type 1 than in type 2 diabetes (OR 4.48).
In that analysis, the difference between diabetic and non-diabetic patients was significant in the maxilla but not in the mandible.
Marginal bone loss was greater in diabetic patients and the gap widened with longer follow-up.
Practical points
Agree on glycaemic control with the patient's physician before surgery and record a recent HbA1c.
Plan for slower healing and closer review, especially in the maxilla.
Monitor bone levels over the long term and keep maintenance intervals short.
Vitamin D: current trials do not show a clear benefit of supplementation for periodontal outcomes, and no trials yet address implant outcomes. Testing may be reasonable on medical grounds, but evidence does not support a fixed threshold as a requirement for implant surgery.
Note: the Instagram version of this post mentioned specific figures for mandibular failures and cluster failures. These could not be confirmed in the published literature, so they are not repeated here.
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Related: Implant crowns and bridges
References
Al Ansari Y, Shahwan H, Chrcanovic BR. Diabetes mellitus and dental implants: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Materials (Basel). 2022;15(9):3227. doi:10.3390/ma15093227
Gillani Haji A, et al. The effect of vitamin D supplementation on periodontal health: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Evid Based Dent. 2026. doi:10.1038/s41432-026-01244-w
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