3 Factors That Can Affect Your Ability To Qualify For A Dental Implant
The use of dental implants for replacing missing teeth is one of the most common approaches used today to restore teeth. If you are missing a tooth or multiple teeth and are considering replacing them, you may want to talk to an implant dentist to find out if this would be a good solution for your mouth. While dental implants are one of the best ways to restore missing teeth, they are not ideal for everyone. Your dentist will need to thoroughly examine your mouth to find out if you would be a good candidate, and here are three factors that can affect this decision.
The Health Of Your Gums
Dental implants are artificial teeth made up of three main parts. The first part is the implant, which is fused into your jawbone below your gum line. The second part is an abutment, which is normally made up of a titanium post that is placed in the implant. The third is the crown, which is the artificial tooth placed on the post. In order for all of this to work as it is designed to, you must be healthy, and your gums must be healthy.
Unhealthy gums recede, and as gums recede, teeth can get loose. As all of this happens, the bone in your jaw can also be affected. In order to qualify for a dental implant, your gums will need to be healthy and free of gum disease.
The Bone Density In This Part Of Your Mouth
Before your dentist will determine if an implant will work for you, he or she will take x-rays of your mouth to see the bone in the area where the implant will go. The dentist does this in order to see if there is enough bone density in this spot to hold an implant.
The bones in your body typically regenerate themselves in an effort to stay strong. This means they will continuously lose mass and make new mass. The bone in your jaw will do this too; however, this process is encouraged by the use of your teeth. When you chew with your teeth, it stimulates the bone, and this is what keeps it healthy. When you are missing a tooth for a long period of time, the bone is not being stimulated, and this can lead to a loss of bone mass.
In addition, if you have problems with your teeth, such as major decay or gum disease, your jawbone might also not be as strong and dense as it should be. X-rays can reveal how dense and thick your jawbone is, and this information will help the dentist determine if an implant is right for you.
Your Overall Health And Habits
Finally, the dentist will take into consideration your overall health and habits when determining whether or not to recommend an implant. One question the dentist will ask is if you smoke. Smokers have a harder time healing, which can make it more likely for an implant to fail. In addition, smokers have a higher chance of having gum disease and problems, which can also cause problems with implants.
If you have any type of health problem, such as diabetes or an autoimmune problem, the dentist might also be leery with offering to do an implant. Both of these health problems can interfere with the way an implant heals inside a person's mouth. If you want an implant, be prepared to answer a lot of general health questions when you visit your dentist.
If you are interested in finding out if a dental implant would work for you, contact a clinic that specializes in implant restoration services today, such as Tijeras Dental Service.
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