Am I Really Not A Good Candidate For Dental Implants ?

 

Over the last few decades, dental implants have become the gold standard in tooth replacement.

Well-placed implants can support an artificial tooth that looks and works like the real thing. 

They can prevent bone loss from a missing tooth and help stop your teeth from shifting around over time.

They’re strong, sturdy and can last a lifetime if you maintain your oral hygiene and look after them.

And they can dramatically improve your quality of life, making it far easier to chew and enjoy your food.

Unfortunately, many people may be under the impression that they’re not a good candidate for any number of reasons (their age, the amount of missing teeth, etc). This is due to common misunderstandings, but it’s also due to inaccurate information from uninformed people.

And while it’s true that not everyone is a good fit for the procedure, you may be surprised how far dental technology has come, and just how many people can now opt for this treatment.

How To Tell If You’re A Good Candidate For Dental Implants In Dearborn

When it comes to finding out if you’re a good candidate for dental implants, your best bet is to visit a dentist near you. They’ll be able to better assess your situation and give you the best advice for how to proceed.

Generally speaking though, a good candidate should have (at a minimum) healthy gums and enough bone density in their jaw in order for the implants to be placed successfully (again, your dentist can properly assess whether or not your jaw is strong enough for the procedure).

It is, however, a misconception that just because you’ve experienced some bone loss that implants aren’t right for you. In many cases, going ahead with the surgery can actually help protect your jaw from further loss.

You should also have good oral hygiene and should not be a smoker. Both of these factors can really make or break whether the implants successfully heal and integrate into your jaw when it’s all said and done.

It’s also a misconception that you’re limited by the amount of teeth you have missing. You may be surprised to know that one implant can support multiple artificial teeth, and there have been cases where patients have lost all their teeth and successfully replaced them.

Who Is Truly Not A Good Candidate

While most people will find that they are in fact good candidates, there are a minority of people who should steer clear of the procedure.

People suffering from certain preexisting conditions may experience difficulties.  For example, patients with diabetes that is under control very often have successful surgeries - however, if you’re a diabetic and your situation isn’t under control yet, you should consult further with your dentist.

You may also have problems if you’re currently taking any mediations that suppress your immune system. Remember, in order for the surgery to be successful, the implant has to successfully heal, and medications that interfere with this process may make you a poor candidate.

Finally, your age may be a factor - but not for the reason you’re probably thinking. Many elderly patients can and do have successful surgeries.

You may, however, be too young. Teenagers tend to be poor candidates for surgery simply because their jaws are still growing and developing. This development process needs to finish before any implants are placed.

While a doctor can assess you or your teens specific situation, generally speaking 18 tends to be the minimum, and in some cases, you may need to wait even longer.