Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?

dental implantsThis is a very common question that is asked by patients when they are considering whether or not they want to get an implant and if they should schedule a consultation with their dentist to discuss the implant procedure. Even though dental implants are the most advanced treatment available for replacing a single missing tooth or several missing teeth, not everyone is a good candidate for the procedure.

Before treatment begins, your implant dentist will thoroughly examine your teeth, gum tissue, and jaw bone. The dentist is looking for signs that your gum tissue is healthy – that you show no signs of gingivitis or periodontal disease, the condition of your teeth, overall oral hygiene, and that you have adequate bone to be able to support an implant.

If you do have gingivitis, (a mild gum infection that causes the gums to appear red, swollen, and bleed), the implant dentist will discuss an oral hygiene routine to treat and eliminate the gingivitis. Periodontal disease is the advanced form of gingivitis and requires additional treatment.

In order for an implant to be placed, there needs to be enough healthy bone to support the implant. If you do not have enough bone, there are several bone grafting techniques available that reshape the bone, rebuild bone tissue, and allow for healthy bone growth.

An implant dentist will also do a detailed review of your medical history. People who have uncontrolled diabetes, smoke heavily, suffer from alcoholism, have an uncontrolled autoimmune disease, take certain medications, or have a condition that impacts their ability to heal, may not be good candidates for a dental implant procedure. These conditions can interfere with healing and compromise the success of the implant.

Good oral hygiene is also extremely important. A person who has had a dental implant placed must be committed to maintaining a good oral hygiene routine. If not, poor oral hygiene may ultimately lead to the failure of the implant procedure.

To summarize, if you are in good health, have one or more missing teeth, are a non-smoker, have good oral hygiene, and do not suffer from a disease or condition that affects your ability to heal, you would be a good candidate for dental implants.

To learn more and to schedule your professional consultation, contact Howl Dental at 918-749-1626 today.