Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?
December 29, 2015
Dental implants are a relatively quick and convenient way to replace sections of missing or badly decayed teeth. Because the implants are anchored directly into the bone of the jaw, they tend to be stronger and more stable than dentures. They also do not need to be removed for cleaning. In fact, they can be treated quite similarly to your regular teeth. However, not everyone is an ideal candidate for implants. Before you rush out to your periodontist in St. Louis, MO, consider these qualities that may mean implants are right for you.
You may be a good candidate for implants if the following are true about you:
- You have little or no bone loss in your jaw
- Your gums are healthy and strong
- You have good oral hygiene overall and are committed to cleaning and maintaining the implants
- You are at least in your early 20s, old enough that your jawbones have stopped growing
- You are not pregnant
- You don’t smoke or drink too much sugary drinks
- You have not recently undergone radiation therapy
- You do not have a chronic illness, suppressed immune system or issue with clotting blood
- You don’t grind or clench your teeth when awake or asleep
Ways to Improve Your Suitability
If you have bone loss in your jaw that prevents you from getting implants, there are techniques for rebuilding lost bone that can make your mouth more suitable for dental implants. Bone is usually rebuilt using grafts taken from bones elsewhere in the body. Grafting is time-consuming process that is not guaranteed to work. However, if you are generally healthy, have a strong immune system you may be a good candidate for a bone rebuilding procedure for your jaw.
Get a professional opinion on whether or not dental implants are right for you by scheduling an appointment with Dr. Stephen C. Snitzer today.