Am I Candidate for Dental Implants
Having missing teeth impacts more than just your appearance, affecting your oral health and jaw function, as well. At Millennium Family Dental, we strive to provide effective solutions to keep your smile beautiful and healthy. There are a variety of options to replace missing teeth, including:
If you are considering dental implant treatment as a permanent solution for teeth missing in your smile, below are some of the requirements to be an ideal candidate.
The Importance of a Healthy Jawbone
The jawbone plays an important role in keeping your facial structure as well as holding your teeth in place. When tooth roots are absent, the support the jaw had is also lost. Over time, this causes the jawbone to recede, resulting in a prematurely aged look along with other orthodontic and oral health impediments.
What makes dental implants a comprehensive tooth replacement option is that they replace the lost tooth roots, preserving jawbone density.
However, in order for implant placement to be successful, patients must have adequate bone tissue health. Prior to the procedure, grafting can be performed to rebuild the structure. Once patients have had time to properly recover from any preparatory treatment, they can move forward with implant placement.
Healthy Habits and Optimal Oral Health
To be a candidate for dental implant treatment, patients must have adequate oral health. Those who experience tooth loss due to periodontal disease or significant decay need to have their gum disease treated before moving forward with implant placement. In its early stages, periodontal disease can be addressed with root scaling and planning.
Patients who take up habits such as smoking or chewing tobacco are often not ideal for implant treatment. These inhibit your body’s ability to properly heal and may extend that healing period or jeopardize the lasting success of treatment. Implant placement requires three to seven months of healing time to ensure proper integration between the post and jaw bone. If you’re considering dental implant treatment, your dentist will recommend that, if you cannot give up smoking or chewing altogether, refrain from doing so for the duration of the integration process.
At Millennium Family Dental, Dr. Risty and his team provide dental care that not only restores oral health but improves your smile’s aesthetics, as well. For more information about implant dentistry, or to schedule a consultation, contact our practice today!