Millions of people suffer from missing teeth, and in the case of permanent teeth, they are lost forever. If you are one of these people, losing your teeth, even if it is just one, can have a huge effect on your oral health. Luckily, there are several tooth replacement solutions that can give you back your teeth. At Periodontal Associates, we offer several of these solutions, including dental implant placement, which replaces your missing teeth with natural-looking prosthetics (which also feel like natural teeth). However, to get this procedure, there are certain requirements you must meet. Therefore, before you decide to go ahead and request the procedure, it is a good idea to find out if you are a good candidate.
What Issues Can Dental Implants Fix?
The first condition for getting dental implants is that you must have lost either one or more teeth (even if you have lost all of them). The tooth loss can be as a result of many causes, including tooth decay, dental injuries, tooth loss due to gum disease or jawbone loss, extraction due to impacted teeth (for example, impacted canines that cannot be repaired), or any other cause.
Requirements for Getting Dental Implants?
For dental implant placement to be successful, there are some certain conditions that must be met. These include:
• | Having sufficient jawbone and gum tissue, this helps to ensure that the implants are properly supported. |
• | Optimal dental health. Dental health problems such as gum disease, tooth infection, gum infection, or jawbone infection can cause your implants to fail. |
• | Optimal overall health. For the implants to heal properly, your overall health must be fairly good. |
• | Proper oral hygiene. While implants are resilient, they can fail due to gum or bone infection caused by poor oral hygiene. |
Reasons Why You Might Not be an Idea Candidate
Even though you may have met all the conditions for getting dental implants, there are factors that can cause the procedure to be denied or postponed for some time. Below is a look at some of these factors:
• | Serious medical conditions. Implant placement can lead to complications if you suffer from medical conditions such as cancer, heart disease, systematic disease, and other serious conditions. |
• | Undergoing radiation therapy or immunosuppressant therapy. These treatments weaken the immune system, thus making it more difficult to heal from the implant placement procedure. |
• | If you suffer from serious teeth grinding, clenching, or bruxism. If you suffer from these dental conditions, getting implants might not be a good idea as the excessive pressure placed on the crowns could cause them to fail. |
• | If you are a pregnant woman, dental implants might involve radiation exposure and also require the use of anesthesia. These exposures can lead to complications, especially during the first and third trimester. |
Dental Implants Cost Considerations
Another thing you will have to consider when getting implants is the cost. The procedure itself is a bit more expensive than other tooth replacement solutions, such as dentures. The cost can increase if several teeth are being replaced, or when additional treatments such as bone grafting and gum grafting are used to prepare you for the procedure. Most insurance companies, however, cover (usually partially) the cost of implant placement. However, it is a good idea to get in touch with your insurance company and us so that you can come up with a proper payment plan.
Are you considering dental implants? We, at Periodontal Associates can help you. Call us today at (971) 317-8414 to find out if you are an ideal candidate for the implant placement procedure.