Statistics show more than 50% of adults are insecure about their smiles, and this affects their confidence, their careers, and their relationships. Thankfully, modern dental technology has a multitude of ways people can improve their smiles. One of the questions we get asked most often about cosmetic dentistry is whether a patient is a good candidate for dental implants. If you’ve ever considered getting implants to restore one or more of your teeth, here’s how to determine whether this option will work for you.
This is the first and most important factor in determining dental implant eligibility. Not everyone is healthy or strong enough to go through oral surgery, so it’s essential for a candidate to be able to undergo the surgery needed. Chronic illnesses such as uncontrolled diabetes or leukemia can interfere with your ability to heal after the surgery.
People with bleeding disorders or compromised immune systems are also at risk for healing challenges, and if you take certain medications, it can impact your eligibility. This doesn’t mean you can’t get implants, but you will need to be carefully evaluated by our dentists, and we may need to involve your family doctor in the decision.
To be considered for a tooth implant Surrey patients also need to have healthy gums and enough bone to accommodate the abutment or metal post on which the artificial tooth is mounted. If you don’t, we might recommend bone grafting to augment the jawbone in the area where you need the implant.
For more information on how bone grafting works, please read this post.
If your gums show signs of infection or the tissue has worn away or pulled back from your tooth roots, you might need soft tissue grafting before we can insert the metal post. This is done by taking donor tissue from another part of your gum or from a tissue bank and implanting it in the affected area.
For more information on soft tissue or gum grafting, please read this post.
When someone smokes, it affects the process of osseointegration, which is the structural connection that develops between your natural jawbone and gum tissues and the titanium implant post. This can delay healing in your mouth and result in the failure of your implant. For dental implant eligibility, you must either be a non-smoker or be prepared to stop smoking two weeks before the surgery and continue until at least three months afterwards.
Getting dental implants takes several procedures and a fair amount of recovery time before you can enjoy your new implant-supported teeth. Patients with dental implant eligibility also need to be committed to investing financially and mentally in the process, and to putting in the time it takes to recover from each step of the process. You also need to commit to following our dentists’ after-care instructions to the letter, and to maintaining bi-annual dental checkups in the following years.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment with our qualified and experienced dental team. We look forward to talking with you about cosmetic dentistry procedures and helping you determine your dental implant eligibility.
