One of the benefits of dental implants is that almost everyone is a candidate. If you are an adult who is missing teeth and is in good enough health for surgery, then you’re a candidate for dental implants. In some cases, a few support procedures may be necessary to ensure optimal results from your dental implants. But in the end, nearly everyone can enjoy attractive, functional, and long-lasting dental implants.
The only way to know for sure whether you are a candidate for dental implants is to schedule an appointment with an implant dentist. If you’re in the Sydney area, please call (02) 9686 7375 today for an appointment at My Hills Dentist in Baulkham Hills, NSW.
Who Is a Candidate for Dental Implants?
When it comes to dental implants, there are only three absolute requirements for dental implants. You should:
- Have one or more missing or failing teeth
- Be an adult
- Be in good health for surgery
If you are considering dental implants for failing teeth, we will want to consider whether the tooth might be saved with gum disease treatment or a root canal. Once we’ve determined that extraction and replacement is the best treatment, we can begin planning your procedure.
In this case, “adult” is determined as being someone whose jaw has finished growing.
Your health status for surgery will be determined in consultation with your doctor. They should sign off on your surgical procedure before we start planning.
If You Have Gum Disease
In some cases, we will decide that your oral health requires treatment before we can perform dental implant placement. Gum disease can infect your dental implants the same way it infects your natural teeth roots. To prevent this, we might have to treat gum disease before your implant procedure.
In some cases, it may take weeks, even months before your gum disease is controlled enough to allow surgery–but it will almost never prevent you from getting implants.
If You Lack Bone
Your dental implants depend on your jawbone to support them. If you don’t have enough bone to support your dental implants, we may have to perform a bone graft procedure to ensure the success of your implants.
Sometimes, the bone graft can be performed at the same time as your dental implant placement. Other times, bone grafts may have to be performed as a separate procedure, which may add up to six months to your total treatment time.
Lifestyle and Function Concerns
There are some lifestyle factors we want to take into account when considering your candidacy for dental implants. These won’t prevent you from getting dental implants, but they can impact your likelihood of success.
If you are a smoker, your risk of dental implant failure increases by two or three times. If you want to get dental implants, we recommend that you quit smoking for at least your surgery and healing period. And if you want the best chance of maintaining your implants for life, it’s best to quit smoking altogether.
Medications
It’s important to tell us about all medications you are currently taking. Some medications, such as antidepressants, can increase your risk of implant failure. If you are unsure about what medications you are taking, bring in your prescription bottles or put us in touch with your doctor.
Don’t forget: over-the-counter medications matter too, along with herbal supplements, which can also be a risk.
Are You a Candidate?
The only way to know for sure whether you’re a candidate for dental implants is to schedule an evaluation with an implant dentist. If you’re in the Sydney area, please call (02) 9686 7375 today for an appointment at My Hills Dentist in Baulkham Hills, NSW.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
