Implants are possible in most cases even with diabetes, aspirin, or osteoporosis injections. Yeonhap Dental Clinic in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon decides the timing of surgery based on HbA1c and consultation with your physician.
Can I get an implant if I have diabetes or take aspirin or osteoporosis injections?
At implant consultations, we often hear that people have put it off because they have diabetes, take blood thinners, or receive osteoporosis injections. An implant is a surgery that places an artificial tooth root in the jawbone where a tooth was lost, so conditions that affect bone healing and medications that affect bleeding need to be checked beforehand.
[Key Answer]
In most cases we can proceed; depending on the condition and the medication, a step is added at the first consultation to check and coordinate with the prescribing physician. For diabetes, Yeonhap Dental Clinic sets the scope of treatment by your recent HbA1c (a value showing average blood sugar over the past 2 to 3 months); for antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin (drugs that stop platelets from clumping and the blood from clotting) and osteoporosis injections, we decide whether to continue them and when to operate in consultation with your physician.
[Summary in 4 Lines]
· One analysis found that the implant failure rate did not differ from people without diabetes, but when diabetes was poorly controlled, peri-implantitis and long-term failure increased (Moraschini 2016, Wagner 2022).
· Dental practice guidance recommends, as the standard, treating without stopping antiplatelet drugs, and Yeonhap Dental Clinic decides individually whether to continue them through consultation with your physician (SDCEP 2022).
· A domestic position statement recommends surgery 3 to 4 months after the last injection for denosumab (the osteoporosis injection given every 6 months), and treatment 6 to 12 months after the last injection for the once-a-year intravenous injection (zoledronic acid) (Kim 2025).
· For any medication, patients should not stop it on their own; it is decided together with the prescribing physician at the consultation.
Written by Dr. Ahn Seong-jin, Chief Director, Yeonhap Dental Clinic
[Contents]
· Can I get an implant if I have diabetes or take aspirin or osteoporosis injections?
· If I have diabetes, is an implant possible even with a high HbA1c?
· Do I need to stop blood thinners such as aspirin or Plavix before an implant?
· If I take blood thinners, how is bleeding managed in implant surgery?
· If I am receiving osteoporosis injections, when can I have an implant?
· What about an implant if I have other chronic conditions such as high blood pressure or thyroid disease?
These three are not reasons you cannot have an implant; they are items we check at the first consultation to decide the order of steps. However, even for the same diabetes or the same medication, the judgment differs depending on how well it is controlled, why the medication is taken, and the extent of surgery. Yeonhap Dental Clinic's treatment sequence is outlined in Implant Guide When You Have Systemic Conditions or Take Medications, and this article explains the reasons, evidence, and limits behind that judgment.
No medication is stopped or changed by the patient alone. This is because the risks of stopping a medication, such as the risk of heart or cerebrovascular disease or fractures, can be greater than the risk of surgical bleeding or jawbone problems.
If I have diabetes, is an implant possible even with a high HbA1c?
It depends on the value. Yeonhap Dental Clinic sets the scope based on an HbA1c from the last 3 months, and postpones surgery if it is in the 9s.
In an analysis pooling 14 studies comparing people with and without diabetes, the number of implant failures did not differ, but bone loss around the implant was significantly lower in the group without diabetes (Moraschini 2016). A recent literature review concluded that in poorly controlled diabetes there was more peri-implantitis (inflammation of the gum and bone around the implant) and more long-term implant loss, but when diabetes was controlled the success rate was similar (Wagner 2022).
So the standard for judgment is not whether you have diabetes but how well it is controlled right now. The criteria below are not figures set by the literature but Yeonhap Dental Clinic's own criteria.
For diabetes medication on the day of surgery, we give individual instructions after checking the type of medication and the meal and fasting plan. With diabetes, infection can show itself later, so if bleeding, swelling, or pain continues after surgery, we check sooner. After the implant is placed, the interval between regular check-ups is also shortened when risk factors such as diabetes are present, and the reason is covered in Implant Lifespan: What Chips Away at the 96% 10-Year Figure?.
Criteria for proceeding by HbA1c (Yeonhap Dental Clinic)
| HbA1c | Yeonhap Dental Clinic's approach | Done together |
|---|---|---|
| In the 7s | Proceed | With dietary management |
| In the 8s | Proceed after explaining the possibility of failure in advance | Stronger blood sugar management and post-operative checks |
| 9 or above | Postpone surgery | Start after the value recovers with dietary management and treatment by a physician |
Do I need to stop blood thinners such as aspirin or Plavix before an implant?
Treating without stopping is the basic recommendation of dental practice guidance, and Yeonhap Dental Clinic checks with your physician first and decides individually whether to continue.
Blood thinners fall into two broad types. Antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin and clopidogrel (Plavix) stop platelets from clumping, while anticoagulants such as warfarin and the newer anticoagulants (DOACs) slow the clotting process itself.
The Scottish dental practice guidance in the UK recommends treating with local hemostasis without stopping the drug, whether a patient takes one antiplatelet drug or two together (SDCEP 2022). This recommendation is meant to avoid the risk of blood clots that can occur when the drug is stopped.
Yeonhap Dental Clinic bases its approach on this recommendation, but in practice we first check with the physician who prescribed the drug. If the physician says it must be continued, we operate with the medication continued, and if we decide with the prescribing physician to stop it, we advise stopping aspirin from 5 days before surgery. For other antiplatelet drugs and anticoagulants, we confirm the drug name, the reason for taking it, and the extent of surgery, and decide individually with the prescribing physician.
If you recently had a stent procedure or have a history of cerebral infarction or myocardial infarction, we consult with your physician even if you take aspirin alone. For warfarin, newer anticoagulants, and heparin, we refer to your physician to confirm whether to continue and what adjustments are needed before operating.
If I take blood thinners, how is bleeding managed in implant surgery?
Local hemostasis, which stops bleeding directly at the surgical site, is the standard, and we prescribe a medication to help stop bleeding if needed.
In a literature review pooling 9 studies of implant surgery, post-operative bleeding occurred in 10 of 456 cases (2.2%), and all were controlled with local hemostasis. It was 0.4% in people taking antiplatelet drugs, 5.7% with anticoagulants such as warfarin, and 3.3% with newer anticoagulants. However, few larger surgeries such as sinus lift or bone grafting were included (Bajkin 2020).
In an analysis pooling 7 studies of implants placed with anticoagulants continued, bleeding risk did not significantly increase with local hemostasis, and it was also reported that warfarin may have a higher tendency to bleed than the newer anticoagulants (Zou 2023).
· Local hemostasis: gauze pressure, sutures, hemostatic agents
· Medication: prescription of tranexamic acid (Doransamin)
The same guidance recommends keeping the initial extent of treatment small and actively considering sutures and hemostatic packing when a patient takes an antiplatelet drug other than aspirin or two together (SDCEP 2022). When the medication is continued, Yeonhap Dental Clinic proceeds flapless whenever the bone and gum conditions allow. Whether flapless is possible is decided by CT and oral examination, and the standard is covered in Implant Pain: What Needs to Change to Minimize It?.
If bleeding continues after surgery or the swelling keeps getting worse, please contact us without waiting for the scheduled check.
If I am receiving osteoporosis injections, when can I have an implant?
The timing of surgery depends on the type of injection, and Yeonhap Dental Clinic checks the date of the last injection and decides together with the prescribing physician.
Osteoporosis injections are medications that prevent bone from being broken down and reduce fractures. In rare cases, osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ, in which part of the jawbone is exposed and does not heal) can occur after procedures that disturb the jawbone, such as an extraction or an implant, so we time the procedure accordingly. In Korea, since 2020, prescriptions for injectable treatments have exceeded those for oral medications (Kim 2025).
The domestic multidisciplinary position statement recommends different timing for each medication. For denosumab, treating 3 to 4 months after the last injection means surgery and healing can be completed within 6 months before the next injection, which it explains can reduce both the risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw and the risk of vertebral fracture that can occur if the injection is delayed (Kim 2025).
For denosumab, Yeonhap Dental Clinic considers surgery 3 to 4 months after the last injection and coordinates with the prescribing physician up to the date of the next injection. For people who receive a once-a-year intravenous injection or have taken an oral medication for a long time, we consult with the prescribing physician to decide whether to pause the drug and when.
The risk is very different when the same class of drug is given at high doses for cancer treatment. In the data summarized in the statement, the incidence of osteonecrosis of the jaw in cancer patients receiving zoledronic acid was 1.6 to 4% within 2 years of treatment and 3.8 to 18% beyond 2 years, and for denosumab 1.9% within 2 years and 6.9% afterward (Kim 2025). In this case, we first discuss the treatment plan with your attending physician.
Timing of procedures by osteoporosis medication (domestic 2025 position statement)
| Medication | Recommended timing of procedure | Points to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Denosumab (Prolia, a subcutaneous injection every 6 months) | 3 to 4 months after the last injection | Adjusted so that surgery and healing are completed before the next injection |
| Zoledronic acid (an intravenous injection once a year) | 6 to 12 months after the last injection date | Potent and stays in the bone for a long time, so the drug holiday is long |
| Oral bisphosphonates (alendronate, etc.) | 2-month drug holiday | Considered after long-term use or when there are other risk factors |
What about an implant if I have other chronic conditions such as high blood pressure or thyroid disease?
If well controlled, most proceed as usual, and for some conditions the timing is decided with your attending physician.
Take blood pressure and thyroid medication as usual even on the day of surgery, and for diabetes medication we give individual instructions after checking the type and the meal and fasting plan. If high blood pressure and thyroid disease are controlled, we proceed as is; people on dialysis have surgery the day after dialysis; and if you are pregnant, it is postponed until after delivery. If you take medication for chemotherapy or an autoimmune disease, we discuss the plan with your attending physician.
5 things to check before an implant consultation if you have diabetes or take medication in Tap-dong, Gwonseon-gu, Suwon
If you bring your medication list and recent test values, the order of steps can be set on the first day, and we can tell you on the spot whether coordination is needed.
Yeonhap Dental Clinic, across from the Suwon NongHyup Guun Branch (231 Geumho-ro) at 230 Geumho-ro, 5th Floor (Tap-dong, Cham Clinic Building), Gwonseon-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, has been treating patients at the same location since 2002. Treatment is led by Dr. Ahn Seong-jin, Chief Director and Integrated Dentistry specialist. For an overview of our implant care, see Dental Implant Care.
· A full list of the medications you take (a prescription or a photo of the medication bag)
· Your HbA1c value from the last 3 months
· The names of your blood thinners and why you take them (whether you have a history of stent, cerebral infarction, or heart disease)
· The name of your osteoporosis injection or medication, the date of the last injection, and how long you have taken it
· The attending physician to contact when adjustments are needed
[Key Takeaways]
✓ With diabetes, how well it is controlled matters more than whether you have it; for a recent HbA1c in the 7s, Yeonhap Dental Clinic proceeds; in the 8s, proceeds after explanation with stronger management; and in the 9s, postpones until it recovers.
✓ The basic recommendation of the guidance is not to stop antiplatelet drugs; Yeonhap Dental Clinic decides whether to continue through consultation with your physician and stops aspirin from 5 days before only when a decision to stop has been made.
✓ The timing of procedures differs by type of osteoporosis injection; for denosumab we consider 3 to 4 months after the last injection, and for intravenous injections or long-term use we consult the prescribing physician.
A few words from the treatment room about implants with diabetes or medications
When I see these patients, I look first at their current values and why they are taking medication, rather than the name of the disease. This is because whether the HbA1c is from the last 3 months, why they take blood thinners, and when they last had an osteoporosis injection can change the surgery schedule. There was a patient who was told their HbA1c was in the 7s, so we went ahead with surgery, but the implant failed at the 1-month check, and when I asked for a repeat test, it was above 9. That is why I place importance on confirming an actual test value from the last 3 months. For blood thinners, the literature recommends continuing, but I first listen to the judgment of the physician who prescribed the drug before deciding. Either way, I make sure the decision to stop or not is made together at the consultation so that the patient does not make it alone.
References
📋 Clinic Information
This article was written in line with the Medical Service Act and the Ministry of Health and Welfare's medical advertising guidelines, and is intended to provide medical information. It does not guarantee or assert the effect of any particular treatment. The treatment and schedule that can be applied vary from person to person depending on how well your systemic conditions are controlled, the medications you take, and your oral condition, so please decide on diagnosis and treatment direction only after a thorough consultation with your dental team. Do not stop your medications on your own; please discuss them with the prescribing physician.
🦷 Implant guide for systemic conditions and medications: Implants in Suwon If You Take Diabetes, Aspirin, or Osteoporosis Medication
📍 230 Geumho-ro, 5th Floor (Tap-dong, Cham Clinic Building), Gwonseon-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do
🚕 Across from the Suwon NongHyup Guun Branch (231 Geumho-ro) / about 15 minutes by taxi from Suwon Station
🚗 Free parking available in the building
📞 031-293-2207
🌐 yeonhapdental.com
🟡 Open since 2002 / Treatment led by Dr. Ahn Seong-jin, Chief Director and Integrated Dentistry specialist
🔗 Online booking and consultation
Implants With Diabetes, Aspirin, or Osteoporosis Injections: Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I get an implant if I have diabetes?
- In most cases, yes. Yeonhap Dental Clinic sets the scope by an HbA1c (a value of average blood sugar over 2 to 3 months) from the last 3 months; in the 7s we proceed with dietary management, and in the 8s we proceed after explaining the possibility of failure in advance and strengthening management. These are our clinic's own criteria.
- If my HbA1c is 9 or above, can I not get an implant?
- It is not that it cannot be done; it is postponed. Yeonhap Dental Clinic postpones surgery if the HbA1c is in the 9s, and starts after the value recovers with dietary management and treatment by a physician. A literature review found that peri-implantitis and long-term failure increased in poorly controlled diabetes (Wagner 2022).
- Do I need to stop aspirin before an implant?
- Dental practice guidance recommends, as the standard, treating with local hemostasis without stopping antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin (SDCEP 2022). Yeonhap Dental Clinic checks with your physician first to decide whether to continue, and only when a decision to stop has been made in consultation with the prescribing physician do we advise stopping from 5 days before surgery.
- Are other drugs such as Plavix or warfarin also stopped for 5 days like aspirin?
- No. Other antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel (Plavix), and warfarin and the newer anticoagulants, each have different criteria, so Yeonhap Dental Clinic confirms the drug name, the reason for taking it, and the extent of surgery, and decides individually with the prescribing physician. Please do not stop them on your own; decide at the consultation.
- If I take blood thinners, will I bleed a lot during implant surgery?
- In a literature review pooling studies of implant surgery, post-operative bleeding in people taking antiplatelet drugs was 0.4%, and all bleeding was controlled with local hemostasis (Bajkin 2020). Yeonhap Dental Clinic uses local hemostasis with gauze pressure, sutures, and hemostatic agents, and prescribes tranexamic acid (Doransamin) to help stop bleeding if needed.
- I am receiving osteoporosis injections (Prolia); can I have an implant?
- Yes. The domestic position statement recommends treating 3 to 4 months after the last denosumab (Prolia) injection (Kim 2025), and Yeonhap Dental Clinic also considers surgery at this time and coordinates with the prescribing physician up to the date of the next injection.
- What about an osteoporosis intravenous injection received once a year?
- Once-a-year intravenous injections such as zoledronic acid are potent and stay in the bone for a long time, so the domestic position statement recommends treatment 6 to 12 months after the last injection date (Kim 2025). In this case, Yeonhap Dental Clinic consults the prescribing physician to decide whether to pause the drug and when to operate.
- Where is Yeonhap Dental Clinic in Tap-dong and Guun-dong, Gwonseon-gu, Suwon?
- It is at 230 Geumho-ro, 5th Floor (Tap-dong, Cham Clinic Building), Gwonseon-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, across from the Suwon NongHyup Guun Branch (231 Geumho-ro). Free parking is available in the building, and the clinic is about 15 minutes from Suwon Station by taxi.
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Before your visit
This article provides general information on oral health and dental care. Whether treatment is needed, and which method is appropriate, may change after an oral exam and any necessary diagnostic tests. If you have pain, a loose tooth, swelling, or discomfort with a prosthesis, please visit us for a consultation.