Who Is A Candidate For Dental Implants? Dental implants are the most natural-looking tooth replacement options available. Find out if they are suitable for you by talking to one of our experts at Oral Surgery Specialists of Buda.The use of dental implants is becoming ever more popular with more than three million Americans now having at least one dental implant. It is not hard to see why, as they provide a permanent solution that looks, feels, and acts exactly like a natural tooth. What Is a Dental Implant?A dental implant takes the place of a tooth root. It is placed into the jawbone where it fuses with the bone to provide a strong anchor on which to replace a replacement tooth (crown). The implant can withstand all the normal biting and chewing forces exerted on it, and with good care will last as long as your natural teeth. How Many Teeth Can Be Replaced with Dental Implants?Traditionally, one dental implant is used to replace one tooth. However, if you have several teeth in a row missing, two implants can be used to support an implant-supported bridge. If you have all of your teeth missing, an All-on-4® or implant-supported denture can support a full arch of teeth on just four dental implants. Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?Dental implants are suitable for many people. However, there are some circumstances where implants are not deemed suitable. These are: HealthYou will need to be in good general health for dental implants. Individuals with some health disorders, such as blood clotting issues, may not be suitable. Similarly, patients with uncontrolled diabetes are not good candidates. Even if you are diabetic and it is well-controlled, because those with diabetes tend to suffer from gum disease, you must be prepared to keep the mouth clean, particularly around the implants. You will need a twice-daily brushing and flossing regimen with regular visits to the dentist for check-ups. Bone LossBone loss in the jawbone is one of the major reasons why you may not be suitable for dental implants. It is often caused by the advanced form of gum disease, known as periodontal disease, which causes degeneration of the bone and leads to tooth loss. Tooth loss in itself (without periodontal disease) is also another factor responsible for bone loss. Thus, if you have an accident and your tooth is knocked out, the bone around the tooth socket begins to resorb. This starts to happen as soon as the tooth is lost, and within a year up to 25% of bone mass around the socket is gone. Bone loss can be prevented by maintaining good dental hygiene, and if you lose a tooth through injury by replacing it as soon as you can with a dental implant, this will stop the bone-resorbing and promote healthy growth. Bone grafts are a common option in dentistry to augment the bone prior to an implant procedure. SmokingSmoking has a detrimental effect on the success of dental implants. It reduces blood supply, so oxygen and nutrients used for healing and fighting infection are restricted. This can affect the successful integration of the dental implant, which may lead to its failure. Find Out if You Are a CandidateSchedule an appointment to find out if you are a candidate for dental implants at Oral Surgery Specialists of Buda. Call us at (737) 335-0017. |
