Am I a good candidate for dental implants?
Dental implants are often an aesthetically pleasing, durable and effective solution for restoring the oral health of people who have lost teeth due to trauma or decay. The custom-made implants not only restore the function and look of a smile, but they can also reduce the risk of further tooth loss by stopping the remaining natural teeth from shifting toward the missing tooth’s space and causing a misaligned bite. Dental implants also do not require removing or changing the neighboring teeth, allowing patients to keep their healthy teeth intact.
A good candidate for dental implants is in good overall health and has healthy gums. People who seek dental implants to replace missing or damaged teeth also should have strong bone density in the jaw. Bone density is essential because it supports the root of the implant and allows the jaw to fuse permanently with the implant. If a patient lacks sufficient bone density, alternative treatments may be recommended.
Your dentist will also consider many other factors before recommending dental implants. For instance, patients who are diabetic, hemophilic, suffering from certain medical conditions or taking certain types of prescription medicines may not be good candidates for dental implants. Patients who smoke or are pregnant may also not be ideal candidates for the treatment.
Having these traits does not necessarily disqualify a patient from receiving dental implants. Before recommending the treatment, your Lansdowne implant dentist will conduct a thorough examination and consult with the patient to determine if dental implants are the best solution.
By Dr. Tracey Nguyen