Those suffering from tooth loss may want to get dental implants. After all, they improve the quality of one’s smile and preserve oral health. It makes perfect sense to schedule the procedure as soon as possible.
You should see if you qualify first, though. To do so, read about these five positive qualities of dental implant candidates.
Commitment to Dental Health
The success of a patient’s implants depends on dental hygiene that maintains them and the gums. If you already practice good habits to keep your mouth clean, treatment will have a higher chance of working.
Like natural teeth, implants need brushing twice daily. Floss and mouthwash also help implants by fighting bacteria that might compromise your teeth and gums.
Sufficient Bone in Your Jaw
Implants need to be anchored to the jawbone to ensure they stay in place. If they’re not inserted in time, tooth loss will erode your jawbone until it can’t support implants.
If you don’t have enough bone in your jaw, your dental surgeon can provide bone grafts. The grafts will encourage bone growth and thus generate more area for implant placement. Still, you should try to receive your implant before grafting becomes necessary!
Healthy Gums
Implants are more vulnerable to gum inflammation than natural teeth. If plaque buildup results in an infection, your gum could detach from an implant and create pockets that collect harmful bacteria over time.
Gum disease can produce bacteria that attack the bone supporting your implants. Since the latter need to remain anchored in the jawbone, this bacteria-induced bone loss would cause them to fail.
Don’t Drink or Smoke Excessively
Drinking alcohol following the procedure can lead to dry mouth and an inability to form blood clots, which would interfere with your recovery. It can result in bone loss too, making implant placement difficult.
Smoking increases the risk of gum disease and slows healing, putting your implants in jeopardy. Doing so before surgery could contribute to bone loss. If the patient continues to smoke after surgery, the implant might not fuse with the jawbone and thus fail.
Free of Chronic Diseases
Chronic diseases can create risks for dental implant patients. For instance, patients with diabetes have a higher rate of dental implant failure. Diabetes can also lead to cavities and gum disease. Plus, it interferes with the fusion between the implant and jawbone.
Other chronic conditions can complicate the surgery. Heart disease and sleep apnea often interfere with anesthesia. Even teeth grinding can interfere with healing.
Not just anyone with missing teeth should qualify as a procedure candidate. Talk with your dentist to see if you have what it takes for dental implants to restore your smile!
About the Practice
White Cosmetic & Family Dentistry is based in Goode, VA. Headed by the husband-and-wife duo of Drs. Brandon & Julia White, they employ high-quality, family-accessible dental services. With a background in preventive, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry, they’re ready to serve patients of all ages. The dental team also ensures effective treatment by using advanced digital technology in their work, including their dental implant process. For more information or to book an appointment, the practice can be reached at its website or by phone at (540)-587-5707.