Factors That Determine the Best Candidate for Dental Implants
Missing a tooth or teeth makes speaking and chewing difficult. It may also compromise your nutrition. Lost teeth can lead to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer. Replacing these missing teeth can improve the aesthetic of your smile and your overall health. This can be done by the use of dental implants In Irvine, CA.
Dental implants are a method of restorative and aesthetic dentistry used to replace missing or lost teeth. This technique involves the replacement of the missing tooth with a permanent implant. The implant often has two or three parts:
- The base is a titanium screw surgically placed into the jawbone.
- The crown is often created from a ceramic material and designed to match the shape and color of your tooth. The crown connects to the base.
- An abutment, also called a connector, is used with some implants. It is placed on the part of the base which protrudes through the gum.
Not everyone will be a good candidate for dental implants. Some young jaws whose teeth are still growing will have to wait until adulthood for the procedure. If your overall and oral health is good or if you have a missing tooth, you can qualify to be a candidate. Find out below if you qualify as a candidate.
Common Traits of Good Dental Implant Candidates
The following factors will help you know if you qualify as a dental implant candidate:
- 1. Adequate Bone Support
The most important thing is having adequate bone support because dental implants need to fuse with the jawbone to be effective. The bone quality and density are also of vital importance. That is why children do not qualify as good candidates, as their jawbone needs to develop before this option is considered fully. However, if your bone is inadequate, your dentist near you can use bone grafts or smaller implants.
- 2. Good Overall Health
Dental implants surgery requires sedation and recovery. Patients with poor oral health, such as those who consume alcohol, smoke, or have diabetes, have a lower average success rate.
- 3. Healthy Gums
Having healthy gums is also important; they add much support to the implants while fusing to the bone. Dental implant failure is more common in patients who are at risk of suffering from gum disease. If you have gum disease, then you will have to wait until the infection is treated.
- 4. Oral Health
Your oral health is also an important factor to consider when in need of dental implants. The success of your implant surgery is dependent on maintaining great dental hygiene. Daily flossing and brushing are vital, of course. Regular dental check-ups with your local dentist in Irvine, CA, should be done at least twice a year. Taking care of your implants to such a rigorous standard helps strengthen your natural teeth as well.
You can also qualify as a candidate if you do not clench your teeth. The pressure caused by this bruxism or clenching can drastically lower your chances of success with dental implants.
The location of your missing tooth can also contribute to the success of your dental implants.
Reasons Why You May Not Be a Good Candidate for Dental implants
The dental implants procedure is not suitable for young children. This is because the jaws are still tender and not yet grown. Pregnant women also have to wait till they deliver to have a dental implant procedure.
Heavy drinkers and smokers are also not good candidates for the implant procedure. They should consider quitting before getting dental implants because smoking inhibits oral healing and an unsuccessful operation.
You may also not qualify for the surgery if you have a systematic or chronic problem. Conditions such as connective tissue diseases, hemophilia, uncontrolled diabetes, and immune deficiencies can also lead to disqualification.
Dental implants are also discouraged for anyone who might have had head or neck high-dose radiation treatment.
If you need any clarification about getting dental implants near you and your likelihood as a candidate, visit our dental office near you. You can also call us or complete our online booking form available on the Premium Dental website to setup a consultation with a qualified dental implant dentist 92604. The dentist will guide you on full-mouth dental implants.