How Do I Know If I Am a Suitable Candidate for Dental Implants?

dental implants spring valley nvDental implants are an excellent way to replace missing teeth. They help maintain the proper spacing in your mouth and keep your jawbone healthy over time. They also remain stationary in your mouth so you can eat and talk without worry. If you are in overall good health, there’s a good chance you are a good candidate for this type of tooth replacement.

What Makes a Good Candidate for Implants?

Before you decide on dental implants, you’ll have a consultation with our oral surgeon to evaluate your suitability for the procedure. If you have any health problems or other issues that could affect your healing, you might not be a good candidate for traditional implants. In some cases, alternative methods for placing implants might work well for you even if traditional implants might not.

Some conditions that can affect your candidacy for implants include:

  • Diabetes
  • Any autoimmune disorder
  • Gum disease
  • Certain drugs used to treat osteoporosis
  • Atrophy in your jawbone

Gum disease should be treated before implants are placed to prevent infection. In many cases, bone grafts can provide additional mass in the jawbone to support implants. Other problems should be discussed with our oral surgeon to determine whether or not implants are likely to be successful.

Deciding on Implants

After your consultation, you’ll have to decide if you want to go ahead with implants. If our oral surgeon believes you’re a good candidate, dental implants are your best option for tooth replacement. Some of the benefits of implants include:

  • Your teeth look and feel natural
  • Your teeth won’t shift, move, or fall out
  • Your jawbone will remain healthy over time

The implant procedure usually occurs in stages. First, the implants are secured in your jawbone. After a few weeks, the jawbone will have bonded to the titanium implants, ensuring they remain secure. At this time, you’ll have prosthetic teeth added, either as crowns placed on your implants or as a removable denture that is held securely by the abutments on the implants. You’ll be able to bite and chew normally, with teeth that look and feel just like your natural teeth.

Call our oral surgeon at 702-367-6666 to see if you are a good candidate for dental implants.