Research Summary
Dialysis patients: Safer dental implants
New clinical guidelines aim to ensure safer dental implant procedures for patients on dialysis for kidney failure. Chronic kidney disease is becoming more common, and 90% of patients experience oral symptoms that lead to early tooth loss. Dental implants can greatly improve quality of life, but carry increased risk of infections for dialysis patients because of their compromised immune systems. Dr. Yuan at Sichuan University, Chengdu, China, and experts from other 4 countries have produced comprehensive clinical guidelines for installing dental implants in dialysis patients. They stress that dentists should consult kidney specialists early in the process, systematically review patient history and perform extensive blood tests prior to surgery. The procedure itself should be as simple and non-invasive as possible, and prophylactic antibiotics should be taken post-operation to minimize infection risk and complications with dialysis.