Does healing after oral surgery take longer in people with diabetes?

Diabetes can lower your resistance to infection and can slow the healing process. If you are having extensive oral surgery, your dentist may prescribe antibiotics to minimize the risk of infection. To help the healing process, keep your blood glucose levels under control before, during and after surgery.

Healing after oral surgery may take longer for someone who has uncontrolled diabetes because the healing process may be hindered by poor blood flow to the treatment area. (Poor blood flow is often associated with people who have diabetes.) While oral infections are more common with people who have diabetes, a close watch of blood sugar levels and good dental care should reduce the possibility of problems after surgery.