Odd Dentist Visit

chkpea · #1 02-17-2010, 11:46 AM

So last night we are at the dentist and he is talking to me about James' large gap between his front teeth and how lasering off a piece of his gum would help it close. So I asked what is the risk in that and he said just healing time. Then I bring up the fact of James being diabetic and he said well healing isn't a problem for those in control of their diabetes. And he mentions that his sister is type 1 - dx'd at 25. And pretty much is like it is no big deal and that she is very controlled and mentions to me about how she is very careful about what she eats. Then I mention that things will change for us in a month with James going on the pump....well this is the odd part....he is like oh, that might be ok for a bit, but you are increasing his chances for infection by doing that because there is an opening going into the body??? is that not a really odd remark to make from a dentist? Then he asks me if James is on the medication for islets (which btw I know nothing about). That's all just had to get it out.

Christopher · #2 02-17-2010, 12:00 PM

Interesting, I have never seen evidence of delayed healing because of diabetes. I think it is a common misconception. As for the increased risk of infection using a pump, to me that makes sense. You have a tube going into an opening in the body. I realize that it is taped up and pretty well sealed, but if dirt or bacteria were to get in there during insertion or during the 3 days of use it is possible to get infected, right? More so than if there was no hole there. I am just speaking logically here and have no science, studies, or a-posteriori knowledge to back up my opinion.

chkpea · #3 02-17-2010, 12:52 PM

ya you are right, just guess I was taken aback by him not really being for the pump. And about the misconception about healing I wasn't really sure about that but I had thought they might be a bit slower to heal.

Flutterby · #4 02-17-2010, 01:44 PM

your son is really to young to be having those 'healing' complications.. BTW, Kaylee has that SAME piece of gum between her top front teeth that are making them gap, she'll most likely have to have it removed as well. There are MILLIONS of people with diabetes using an insulin pump, if there was any such risk pumps wouldn't exist.. remember, he's a dentist, not an endo, and just because his sister has t1, doesn't mean he (and she) knows all.. I wouldn't worry about anything he has said.

swellman · #5 02-17-2010, 02:05 PM

I think there's little doubt that using a pump increases the chance of infections but the question is what type? Systemic or localized at the injection sites - of course there a chance of injection site infection - duh, but if he meant a more general infection then I think that's way out there. I think it's pretty well understood that the benefits from pump therapy greatly outweighs the risk of localized infection - except for maybe your dentist.

Charlotte'sMom · #6 02-17-2010, 02:21 PM

I could see how there might be an increased chance of infection, but that's a small risk compared to the many advantages of the pump-- for us at least.

As far as not healing as well-- when you hear about diabetics being at risk for all sorts of things, I've just kind of assumed that when you're bg is constantly high it affects a lot of things in your body, including your ability to heal and get over illnesses. I don't consider my daughter to be in that category since we work hard to control her blood sugar. I don't even think a T2 diabetic who works hard to keep their blood sugar in range would be in that category. But, if you're walking around with your bg in the 300s every hour of every day, that's a serious problem. I could see how healing would be affected by chronically high blood sugar.

(We had a conversation about this w/ my family b/c my dad's doctor wanted him to get the H1N1 vaccine b/c he's "high risk." He may claim his diabetes is under control, but given the way he eats, I doubt it. I told him I didn't think Charlotte was "high risk" because she's not suffering complications from diabetes, she's rarely sick, and gets over illnesses quickly.)

This is all "diabetes according to Danielle," obviously.

TripleThreat · #7 02-17-2010, 02:35 PM

I think the dentist is not sure of pumps, and doesn't realize you change the site and location every 2-3 days. I think he thinks its permanent like people on feeding tubes.

Omo2three · #8 02-17-2010, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christopher

Interesting, I have never seen evidence of delayed healing because of diabetes. I think it is a common misconception. As for the increased risk of infection using a pump, to me that makes sense. You have a tube going into an opening in the body. I realize that it is taped up and pretty well sealed, but if dirt or bacteria were to get in there during insertion or during the 3 days of use it is possible to get infected, right? More so than if there was no hole there.I am just speaking logically here and have no science, studies, or a-posteriori knowledge to back up my opinion.

Do you have any documented evidence regarding this?
Most people using a pump take special care to disinfect and keep it really clean.
We also use a antibacterial cream after removing the pump.

The gum tissue is called frenum and it is quite common...feels kinda like a pizza burn after they do the procedure.

twicker1 · #9 02-17-2010, 03:33 PM

Sigh... Unfortunately, sometimes no matter how close to home Type 1 may be, people still don't understand. He sounds well-intentioned, but misinformed. My SIL and my uncle were both dx after they moved out of the house, and my FIL and grandmother are virtually clueless when it comes to D. At least he wasn't one of those people that gets big eyes and says, "oh, I didn't realize he was so bad that he needed a pump."

Or like our dentist that has asked if he would grow out of it? Or the last time he told me (while working on Brandon) that for the past however many years they have been treating the inside of canned goods with some lining to keep food fresh. Well, "they" are saying that the lining causes Type 1 D.

Brandon left there asking me if we eat a lot of stuff out of cans?!

Oh, and my niece had that little piece of gum cut, and the space closed up in a couple of weeks!

Melancholywings · #10 02-17-2010, 03:35 PM

I would be put off to. He shouldn't be giving medical advice, suggestions or what not for things that are outside his education while in a professional setting. We had an eye doctor do something similar to DD. He was T1D and diagnoised at 40. But had her nearly in hysterics as he started talking about T1D complications to her as though she was an adult. Used a lot of fear tactics and kept trying to 'educate' me about diabetes. No thank you - that's what my endo team is for.