You may not realize it, but missing teeth are actually very common. Some people are better at hiding the gaps in their smiles than others, but studies suggest that around 178 million U.S. adults are missing at least one tooth, with as many as 40 million having no natural teeth whatsoever. Fortunately, there are many different solutions available that can be used to replace missing teeth and restore the full function and appearance of your smile. One of the most popular is dental implants.

Dental implants use a unique technique to restore missing teeth. Unlike other solutions, dental implants have a titanium post that is embedded directly into the jawbone, which heals around it to secure it permanently in place. This forms the support for the artificial tooth, meaning that there is no need for it to place pressure on surrounding healthy teeth. The dental implant technique is also versatile in that it can be used to replace a single missing tooth or to support a bridge or even a partial or full denture. The number of titanium posts will depend on the number of teeth being replaced.

While dental implants are the most successful of all surgically implanted devices, they may not be a viable solution for every patient. Before you can be approved for a dental implant procedure, you will first need to have a consultation with your chosen dental implant dentist, who will assess various factors to determine if you are a good candidate.

Are your teeth and gums healthy?

Before you can have dental implants, your implants dentist will need to be satisfied that you don’t have any other outstanding dental work that needs to be carried out. This could include cavity fillings or replacement crowns, or more significant treatment such as a root canal procedure. They will also want to check the health of your gums. This is important since moderate to severe gum disease can put dental implants at risk of failing and falling out. If there are any issues, these will need to be dealt with promptly, before getting dental implants.

 

Do you have enough healthy bone in your jaw?

For dental implants to be successful, the bone in your jaw needs to heal around them after they have been surgically placed. This secures the bone in your jaw to the implant post, ensuring it is stable and permanent. It is this part of the implant technique that gives the solution the unrivaled strength and stability for which it is popular. To assess the quality and density of the bone in your jaw, your dental implant provider will ask you to undergo x-rays which will provide images of the bone.

If your x-ray shows that you don’t have enough healthy bone in your jaw, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t ever have implants. You may be able to, but you are likely to need a procedure called bone grafting beforehand, which is used to encourage healthy bone growth, increasing its strength and density.

Are you committed to looking after your teeth?

Gum disease is the natural enemy of dental implants. Failing to properly brush and floss your teeth puts you at a severe risk of implant failure. This is because if the infection is allowed to progress, it could cause the gums to recede and the bone in your jaw to deteriorate – something which can cause implant posts to come loose and fall out. Your dental implant dentist will want to be satisfied that you are committed to taking proper care of your teeth.

Does your general health make you a good candidate for dental implants?

Your implant dentist will also want to make sure that you are in good general health before approving you as a candidate for the procedure. For this reason, you’ll be asked to provide information about your medical history. Some of the things that they will consider will include:
 

- If you have any medical conditions

- If you are currently taking any medications and if so, what these are

- If you have had any serious dental issues in the past

- If you are pregnant or have intentions of becoming pregnant

- If you are nursing

- If you drink alcohol or take drugs

- If you smoke, which is particularly important because not only does smoking increase your risk of complications and slow your rate of healing, but it also makes you more likely to suffer from gum disease

Your dental implant dentist will then use this information to decide if you are a good candidate for dental implants.

To find out more about candidacy for dental implants, please don’t hesitate to speak to our cosmetic dentistry team, Dr. Ramona Sabbaghian, and Dr. Anahita Sabaghian in Marina Del Ray today.