Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?

It is essential that a patient who is a candidate for a dental implant is in his or her best oral health. After all, a dental implant requires a healthy and strong jaw bone in order for the metal to stand erect for years. Any patient, regardless of age, and free of any gingivitis or advanced periodontitis is a candidate for a dental implant. So to set the record straight, what does it take to be a candidate for dental implants?

1. The need to replace a missing tooth or a missing set of teeth. Dental implants are very popular dental solutions if the patient does not want bridgework or a set of dentures to take over his or her missing tooth/teeth. The danger with dentures and bridgeworks is that these are very temporary solutions, and more than that, it requires the person to apply extreme care and caution when brushing, taking off and wearing back the dentures at all times. A dental implant is a very permanent solution to missing tooth or teeth, and it has the capacity to imitate a real tooth or a real set of teeth when done perfectly. Normally, a team composed of a dentist, a dental surgeon and a periodontist will take care of you during your dental implant surgery. All three of them will be in charge of managing your case and suggesting to you the ways by which they will carry your dental implants.

2. A healthy jaw bone, gums and tissues. What happens in a dental implant procedure is that a piece of metal screw is placed on the jaw bone in order for it to hold the artificial tooth or set of artificial teeth. If you are a patient currently facing several periodontal problems, your chances for a dental implant is significantly reduced than a patient who presents signs of general oral wellness. If your jaw bone is brittle and your gums and tissues have a high likelihood for bacteria and infection, you may not be able to withstand the rigors and post-operative requirements of a dental implant procedure. Aside from the possibility of rendering the procedure unsuccessful, it might increase your chances for a more vulnerable jaw line and more possibility towards infections and bacteria in your gums and tissues. Your team of dentists will certainly not let that happen.

3. Physical, mental and financial preparedness. Like in any dental or even medical procedure, there is a level of preparation on the physical, mental and financial aspect that must be set in place. Physical and mental preparation will allow any candidate to go through the surgery without blood level fluctuations or any stress accompanied by both substantiated and unsubstantiated fear. Financially, a dental implant can cost a few thousand dollars depending on how much dental implants one needs, so it is very important that you have a significant amount of money reserved for such as a procedure. Going through a procedure such as a dental implant procedure should not be taken lightly as these have various implications to the patient. However, when all requirements and preparation are met, success in the dental implant procedure is certainly not so far behind.