Are You A Good Candidate For Dental Implant Restoration?

Dentist Articles

If you are missing one or more teeth due to injury or disease, you may feel self-conscious about your appearance, especially if the missing teeth are visible when you smile. Replacing the tooth with a dental implant may be easier than you think and can offer you a life-long solution to improve both your comfort and your appearance. But before you decide on a dental implant restoration, you need to know if you are a good candidate for the procedure. Consider these requirements for getting a dental implant before settling on this option.

Can everyone get a dental implant?

There are no age restrictions to getting a dental implant, but there are some conditions that can make it more difficult. In general, the following must apply in order for you to get a successful dental implant:

• Healthy Oral Tissue: Because the success of your dental implant relies on the gum tissue growing around the implant, your mouth and gums need to be healthy and in good condition, especially in the area surrounding the site of the implant.
• Enough Bone Tissue: Dental implants are surgically attached to your jaw bone and require enough bone tissue to secure the post. Weak or deteriorated bones cannot support the tooth. This can occur with root resorption, which can be detected with x-rays. Other medical conditions may also cause a loss of bone tissue in the jaw.
• General Good Health: Dental implants involve oral surgery. If you have health conditions that make surgery a risk or that prevent or slow healing (such as uncontrolled diabetes), you may not be a good candidate for dental implants.

How do you eliminate risk factors?

If you have any of the above risk factors for a successful dental implant, your dentist may be able to correct the problem, allowing you to receive a dental implant. Gum disease or unhealthy oral tissue may be treated with an antibiotic to kill bacteria and by cleaning (or scaling) the surrounding teeth. Your dentist may give you an oral rinse to use and reassess your mouth's health at  later date. He can also graft or augment the bone in your jaw to allow for dental implants. He may also ask you to visit your primary care physician to assess your general health. You may need to wait until existing health conditions have improved, such as getting your glucose levels under control for a specified period before attempting dental implants.

What is the dental implant procedure?

When you get a dental implant, your dentist will drill a hole in your jaw bone and insert a titanium implant. This implant will be used to anchor the new tooth to your jaw. Typically, the incision is sewn closed until the implant heals. A new incision is then made and an abutment that looks like a miniature tooth is screwed onto the implant. The abutment is designed to hold a crown that looks like a natural tooth. This crown is called a restoration.

How long does it take to get a dental implant and restoration?

The amount of time it takes to insert an implant and add the crown depends on several factors, such as healing time and the exact procedure performed. Generally, your mouth must heal from the insertion of the implant before further work can be done. The entire process may take several months or longer. If you need bone grafting or bone augmentation, the process may take longer.

Is the process painful?

Many report that the pain from a dental implant is similar to the pain associated with a tooth extraction. Most people experience some discomfort, but the pain is typically minimal.

If you are interested in getting a dental implant, talk to your dentist about your concerns. He can advise you of any steps you need to take before you are ready for the procedure. Contact a company like Tijeras Dental Service for more info.

8 August 2016