Are You A Candidate For A Dental Implant?

Choosing to replace missing teeth as soon as possible is a great decision. It will restore your facial appearance, bite function, and speech ability and protect your oral and overall health. Dental implants are the closest thing to your natural teeth when looking to restore missing teeth.

Once an implant heals, it looks, feels, and functions like a natural tooth. Unlike most restorations that require replacement every few years, dental implants can last for a lifetime if cared for well. Even better, it’s artificial, meaning that you don’t have to worry about cavities.

Unfortunately, not everyone is eligible for dental implants. You must meet a few requirements to ensure that the procedure will be successful. This helps prevent any risk of complications or implants failure. Let’s look at what dental implants are and the various factors determining your candidacy for the procedure.

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are titanium screw-like tooth roots that replace missing teeth. Dental implants go in the underlying jawbone of the missing teeth through surgery. The implant bonds with the jawbone in osseointegration and becomes a permanent part of your mouth. This process takes about 3-6 months.

Once the implant has healed completely, an abutment tooth and dental crown give the implant added support and protection. The crown is customized to match closely to your natural teeth, offering incredible natural and appealing results. Depending on the number of missing teeth, you can have a single dental implant or full mouth implants.

Are You a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

To be a good candidate for dental implants, you must have:

• Good oral and overall health

Generally, good oral and overall health is essential to healing from implant surgery successfully. Pre-existing conditions such as gum disease and diabetes can interfere with the body’s natural ability to heal naturally. It can lead to delayed healing, infections, or even implant failure. For this reason, ensure you notify your oral surgeon about any underlying conditions during your initial consultation.

• Older than 18 years

Unfortunately, if your child has lost a tooth, they might not qualify for dental implants. Since implants are permanent and require a fully developed jaw, the procedure isn’t recommended for young patients. Generally, a dental implant candidate must be 17 or 18 years old. Consult with your child’s pediatric dentist to determine whether they are eligible for implants.

• Healthy and sufficient bone density

Generally, implants require a stable foundation for osseointegration to take place. Therefore, a healthy and sufficient jawbone is essential for successful dental implant placement. Patients with insufficient bone density can consider alternative tooth-replacement treatments such as bridges and dentures. Similarly, you can get a bone graft to rebuild the jawbone, which will qualify you for dental implant surgery.

• Healthy gums

Along with sufficient bone density, having healthy gum tissues is necessary. Since implants are placed on the jawbone and into the gums, you need healthy gum tissues to hold on to the implant normally. Healthy gum tissues are also essential for quick healing. If you have periodontal disease, it has to be treated before placing the implant.

• Be a non-smoker

Generally, smoking is detrimental to your overall well-being. Smoking before or after implant surgery can prevent normal healing of the implant and prevent osseointegration. While dental implants typically have a high success rate, smoking increases your risk of implant failure. If you smoke, you must be willing to stop.

• Good oral hygiene and habits

After your implant surgery, good at-home dental hygiene and habits are required to prevent infections, leading to delayed healing or implant failure. Your dentist will likely give you a few aftercare tips that you must follow carefully to facilitate quick healing and recovery.

Final verdict

Generally, it doesn’t mean that you can’t have dental implants if you don’t meet all these requirements. To know whether you’re eligible, you must visit your dentist for further examination. Your dentist can also suggest supplemental procedures such as bone grafting and gum surgery to prepare you for successful dental implant surgery. Contact Maple Tree Dental today for more information about dental implants in Easton, PA.