Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?

02 May Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?

Tooth loss doesn’t just have negative effects on your smile’s appearance. It can also interfere with the functionality of your teeth and compromise the stability of remaining teeth. When faced with tooth loss, it’s important to choose an effective and durable appliance to replace the teeth.

Dental implants are becoming an increasingly popular choice for treatment among patients who have suffered tooth loss.

Because the bone is able to bond with the surface of the titanium implant, dental implants offer a complete tooth structure. Alternatives like bridges and dentures fall short in this aspect, replacing only the absent crown. 

However, this osseointegration process requires that the patient have an adequate amount of bone to support the process. If not, the bond between the bone and the implant may not be strong enough, and the implant could fail.

In evaluating patients for dental implants, an oral surgeon will examine the quality of the bone at the implant site, often taking x-rays to get a better view of the structure.

Bone loss often occurs after tooth loss, because the tooth’s root serves as an anchor for the jaw. When the root is no longer present, the jawbone will wear away.

Patients who postpone getting dental implants for a long time after the tooth is lost may discover that their facial structures are no longer suitable for dental implant placement. Fortunately, this can be addressed with a bone graft to provide supplemental bone, but that does require an additional surgery.

Good oral health and overall health are also needed before patients can receive dental implants. Oral diseases, like periodontal disease, must be controlled before the placement procedure, and patients must be healthy enough to tolerate surgery.

If you are considering dental implants as a treatment for tooth loss, it’s best to move forward with the process as soon as possible after the tooth is lost or extracted. Acting quickly improves your chances that sufficient bone will be available. Contact the office of Dr. Richard Miller for an evaluation to determine whether you are a good candidate for dental implant placement.