Considering Dental Implants? How To Know If You Are A Good Candidate

Have you been considering the use of dental implants in order to replace your broken, missing, or decayed teeth? If so, you may be wondering whether or not you would be a good candidate for this dental procedure. While this is a decision that you will ultimately need to make with help from your dentist, taking the time to answer the four questions below can help you to get a much better idea of whether or not dental implants are right for you.

Question #1: Are You In Good Health?

Getting dental implants will require you to go through a surgical procedure which typically takes place with the use of a general anesthetic. In order to be a good candidate for any type of surgical procedure, including dental implants, you will need to be in good general health.

Question #2: Do You Suffer From Bone Loss?

What makes dental implants so unique when compared to other tooth replacement options is that these implants are surgically placed in your jawbone in order to provide additional strength and prevent the shrinking of your tooth sockets. As a result of this unique structure, it is vital that you have a strong jawbone at the time your procedure is completed. If you have suffered bone loss as the result of the aging process, advanced gum disease, or other preexisting conditions, you may not be a good candidate for dental implants. However, if your bone loss is mild and localized, it may be possible for your dentist to perform a bone graft in order to improve your candidacy for this procedure.

Question #3: Are You Able To Commit To Good Oral Hygiene?

Since dental implants are not taken out at night like dentures are, you will need to clean your new teeth the same way that you clean your natural teeth. This means brushing and flossing multiple times each day. If you are not able to keep up with the required oral care regimen, you could find that your implants do not last nearly as long as expected. Consequently, the best candidates for dental implants will be fully committed to good oral hygiene.

Question #4: Are You Willing To Undergo A Multi-step Process To Replace Your Missing Teeth?

Unlike the option of same-day dentures, dental implants cannot be provided in a single visit to your dentist. The process of getting dental implants will require several visits to your dentist over the course of months. In order to be a good candidate for this procedure, you will need to commit to this process with the understanding that you will not receive your implants on the same day that your teeth are extracted. In some cases, you may need to rely on alternative tooth replacement options until the process of receiving your implants is complete. 

For more information about dental implants, contact a local dentist. 

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