One of the most remarkable advancements in dental technology over the past few years are dental implants. Designed to either replace missing teeth or act as anchors for partial or complete sets of dentures, implants look exactly like natural teeth and they are extremely strong and durable – often lasting patients for an entire lifetime. An implant consists of a metal rod that is inserted into the jawbone of the patient. After a few months, the metal fuses with the bone tissue, creating in effect an artificial tooth root. At that point, the dentist affixes a porcelain crown to the top of the implant, and the patient is fully equipped with what is as close to a brand new natural tooth as modern science will allow.
While there’s no doubt that dental implants are excellent choices for most patients, they may not be right for everyone. A good candidate for an implant should have all of the following:
- Adequate bone tissue – If you don’t have sufficient bone mass in your jaw to accommodate the implant, you might not be a good candidate. There are ways around this issue, however. A dental surgeon may be able to rebuild your jawbone prior to receiving the implant, which is typically done by bone grafting.
- Healthy gums – If you have any form of gum disease, your dentist or oral surgeon will want to address that issue prior to performing the implant surgery. Fortunately, the early stage of gum disease (gingivitis) is relatively easy to treat. But if you have periodontitis (latter-stage gum disease), it might require additional treatment methods to resolve the issue before an implant procedure can be performed.
- Willingness to practice a daily oral hygiene routine at home – You’ll need to brush at least twice a day and floss at least once a day to ensure that your teeth and gums remain healthy and strong. And you’ll need to visit your dentist at least twice a year for professional cleanings and oral exams.
Although most people are good candidates for dental implants, some patients are not. Those include children, pregnant women, heavy smokers, and people who abuse alcohol or drugs. People who have chronic diseases may need to have their current health carefully assessed before an oral surgeon or dentist is willing to perform an implant procedure.
For more information about dental implants, and to find out whether you are a good candidate, talk to your dentist.
