Who is a Candidate for Dental Implants?

Most patients who have lost one or more adult teeth are good candidates for dental implants. Implants can be used to meet all kinds of tooth loss needs, whether you have lost one tooth or many. You can get dental implants whether your missing teeth have been extracted or they have fallen out on their own. You are considered a good candidate for dental implants if you have healthy gums and your jawbone has stopped growing.

Even patients who have lost bone mass in their jaws can still be considered candidates for dental implants. If this is the case for you, a bone graft may be necessary to restore mass and increase support for the implant posts. For those missing a full arch of teeth, there are implant solutions that can provide dental implants without the need for bone grafting.

To determine if you are an ideal candidate for dental implants, we first need to conduct a thorough initial consultation. In addition to an oral examination, imaging is also necessary. We will take digital X-rays as well as 3D CT scans. The 3D scan will show us not just your jawbone, but the nerves, blood vessels, nasal passageways, and cavities. The image enables us to custom create a treatment plan just for you, enabling us to determine how many implant posts are needed, what angle they need to be placed at, and how deep they need to be inserted to provide you with the best possible outcome.

As well as your dental exam and images, we also need to go over your medical history and habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption. Your overall health, as well as certain types of habits, all play a crucial role in your ability to heal properly after implant surgery and how successful your treatment will be.

Dental implants have a lengthy recovery period. Moreover, if you have to have a bone graft before implant placement, you will have to wait until you have healed from this procedure before the implants can be placed, a process that can take several months. Most implants require 3-4 months to fully heal from implant surgery, but in some instances, the whole process can take up to a year to complete. Because of this, patience is important. It will take time to heal, and it is important that you do not rush the process as doing so can affect the success of your treatment.

There are certain factors that can hurt the outcome of treatment with dental implants. These factors include such things as uncontrolled gum disease, uncontrolled diabetes, smoking, cancer, and other uncontrolled health conditions. Even with these conditions, it may still be possible to receive dental implants. We will thoroughly assess your specific situation. It may require working with both you and your physician to improve your overall health. If you are not considered a suitable candidate for dental implants, we will discuss what options are available to you.

Are you interested in learning more about dental implants? Give us a call at (503) 647-4565 to schedule an appointment. We are happy to help you learn more about your smile!