Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants? Find out if you are a candidate for dental implants by scheduling an appointment with our specialists at Water's Edge Dental. We carry out a range of dental implant procedures and will endeavor to find one that is suitable for your particular circumstances.Dental implants are an increasingly popular tooth restoration treatment and fall under the category of cosmetic dentistry. According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, more than three million Americans now have dental implants, which is growing at the rate of 500,000 annually. What Is a Dental Implant?A dental implant is a titanium post that is embedded into the jawbone. It acts as a tooth root and is able to support an artificial tooth, the crown, and withstand the biting and chewing forces associated with it. Dental implants can be used as a single tooth implant restoration to replace one tooth, or for multiple tooth implant restorations as part of a bridge, an implant-supported denture, or part of the All-on-4® Treatment Concept. Part of their success is because they provide teeth that look and function as well as natural teeth, providing greater stability than dentures. While many people are suitable to have dental implants, there are some circumstances that may make it more difficult, but not impossible. Bone LossOne of the primary reasons that will make you unsuitable for dental implants is if you have bone loss in the jaw. Bone loss may be caused by advanced periodontal disease, which compromises the bone as the disease advances. Tooth loss is also responsible for bone loss because the bone around the tooth socket resorbs once a tooth is removed, unless a dental implant is placed, which prevents bone loss, the bone will continue to lose volume and degenerate. While placing a dental implant helps to prevent bone loss by keeping the jawbone stimulated so it produces new, healthy cells, if there is not enough bone there in the first place the implant cannot be placed. HealthGood health is essential if you are receiving dental implants. There are long-term disorders that could cause problems and compromise the success of a dental implant procedure, but these may not be entirely insurmountable. For example, if you have diabetes, as long as your disease is well-controlled you may be considered a good candidate for dental implants. However, you will need to be prepared to maintain excellent dental health and keep your mouth scrupulously clean. As people with diabetes tend to suffer from gum disease this may affect the area around the implants, and so great care must be taken to ensure the gums remain healthy. SmokingSmoking is a big problem for dental implants. It reduces oxygen supply and nutrients in the body as it constricts blood flow. The soft tissue and bone surrounding dental implants need to heal and fight infection, especially after your implant surgery. As dental implants need to fuse with the jawbone to provide stability, if this process is interrupted it could jeopardize the successful integration of implant and bone, which may lead to your dental implants failing. Don’t hesitate to contact us here at Water's Edge Dental if you want to find out more about whether you are a suitable candidate for dental implants. Call our office at (208) 391-8554. |
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