While dental implants are the best permanent solution for replacing missing teeth, only some are suitable candidates for it. Determining candidacy is essential to ensure the procedure’s success so that you can achieve optimal results.
But why dental implants are often popular for tooth replacement? Let’s take a closer look to understand this.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are modern, innovative solutions for teeth replacement after tooth loss or extraction. These are artificial tooth roots surgically placed into your jawbone. Once these fuse with the jaw bone, they become a permanent part of your mouth.
How do they work? Once you undergo the surgical procedure, a surgeon places the implants into your jawbone. Known as osseointegration, these implants naturally fuse with the jawbone to create a stable foundation over time. Often, an abutment piece connects the implants with a crown, bridge or denture.
With such intricacies, dental implants provide a long-lasting, functional and aesthetically pleasing result. Here are some benefits why most patients prefer dental implants over other options:
- Durability: Made of titanium, these can last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance.
- Natural Appearance: Matches your teeth translucently, providing a natural-looking smile.
- Function: Allows you to eat, speak and smile without discomfort or pain.
- Stability: Often provides a more secure fit and is not removable, unlike dentures.
- Jaw Bone Preservation: This helps you prevent bone loss with missing teeth or other tooth replacement options.
Key Factors That Determine Candidacy
Dental implants offer numerous benefits, making them the gold standard for teeth replacement. However, various factors must be considered when deciding whether an individual is suitable for implants. These include:
General Health
A patient’s overall health determines their suitability for dental implants. Systemic conditions often contribute to implant complications, including:
- Cardiovascular Diseases
- Thyroid Disorders
- Diabetes
- Autoimmune Disorders
- Peripheral Vascular Disease
Uncontrolled diabetes often delays osseointegration, negatively affecting how implants integrate into the jawbone. When affected by this condition, bone recovery is reduced by 40%, which impedes implant success. This also increases the chance of peri-implantitis, an excessive inflammation of the tissues surrounding the implant.
Cardiovascular diseases also pose another challenge, potentially complicating surgical procedures. On another condition, autoimmune disorders compromise the body to fight certain infections, slowing tissue repair.
Certain medications used to treat these conditions may also increase risks during and after the procedure. For example, anticoagulants and immunosuppressants may impact implant healing. Managing these underlying health conditions necessitates a thorough medical evaluation before implant surgery.
Oral Health
Candidates must be free from gum and periodontal diseases to ensure dental implant success. The accumulation of bacterial plaques leads to oral infection. Periodontitis, a severe form of gum disease, stems from poor oral health.
Daily brushing and flossing habits can help maintain good oral hygiene. Beyond these habits, routine dental check-ups provide professional cleaning and monitoring of dental implants. Regular dental visits also help limit parafunctions, such as excessive jaw clenching that affects jaw structures.
Bone Density
Sufficient jaw bone density, strength, and quality are crucial to supporting dental implants. Evaluating adequate bone density helps the implants integrate properly into the jawbone. However, conditions like osteoporosis often result in a decrease in bone mass and density.
On a positive note, dental implants are possible even among patients with low bone density, given special precautions. Bone grafting procedures help patients with low bone density. These involve transplanting bone tissues to establish a sturdy foundation for dental implants.
Smoking and Lifestyle Factors
Smoking and certain lifestyle factors negatively impact healing and implant success. To put this into perspective, smoking decreases calcium absorption in your body. This also reduces blood flow, which increases the risks of implant failure.
Aside from smoking, excessive alcohol consumption interferes with healing and increases the risk of complications. Quitting smoking and alcohol intake can improve candidacy for dental implants. Proactive lifestyle changes also help, such as engaging in regular exercises and adopting a balanced diet.
Age Considerations
Although age is not a strict barrier to dental implant eligibility, it influences the evaluation process. Dental implants are a good option for younger patients who have lost teeth due to injuries or other causes. However, younger patients often must wait until their jawbone has fully developed to undergo implants.
Being more prone to systemic health conditions, older patients may encounter challenges from dental implants. Older patients may have poor local bone conditions and potentially longer healing times. However, dental implants are generally a good option for adults of all ages to prevent jaw bone deterioration and oral complications.
Alternative Options if You’re Not a Candidate
Neglecting existing conditions may pose severe risks when opting for dental implants. When dental implants aren’t a suitable option for you, alternative tooth restoration exists, such as:
- Partial Dentures are removable dental appliances that can replace a few missing teeth. They consist of metal clasps anchoring dentures to your natural teeth, making them more stable.
- Full Dentures are complete sets of removable or fixed artificial teeth that replace all your natural teeth. They cost less than dental implants yet provide good tooth replacements.
- Fixed Bridges: These are a series of artificial teeth typically cemented into your natural teeth on either side of the missing piece. This often requires meticulous cleaning for proper maintenance.
- Removable Bridges: Similar to partial dentures, these often use metal frameworks instead of clasps to hold your artificial teeth in place.
Finding the right dental solution can be challenging. As a leading dental service provider, Aesthetic Dental Clinic provides superior crafted dental appliances to ensure your beautiful smiles.
We’re a team of experienced dental professionals who work closely to determine the best tooth replacement option based on your specific needs and preferences. Our proven track record can help you find more appropriate dental fixtures while ensuring your aesthetic goals and oral health.
The Consultation Process at Aesthetic Dental Clinic
At Aesthetic Dental Clinic, we believe that every patient deserves a personalised approach to dental care. This is especially true when it comes to dental implants, which are a lasting oral health investment.
As committed dental professionals, here are what to expect during your consultation:
- Comprehensive Assessment: We conduct a thorough examination of your oral health to determine your suitability for dental implants. This may include reviewing your dental history, performing oral examinations, and imaging tests.
- Personalised Treatment Planning: We customise treatment plans tailored to your specific needs and goals. This includes discussing your implant placement, restoration options, timelines and costs.
Aesthetic Dental Clinic’s commitment to patient care speaks volumes on how we prioritise patient safety and satisfaction. We have extensive experience in dental implants and the latest technology to ensure precise, safe and efficient dental procedures.
Dental implants offer transformative, permanent solutions to individuals missing teeth. Becoming a suitable candidate for dental implants is a step forward in improving your oral function, aesthetics and overall quality of life.
When considering dental implants, it is highly recommended that you consult with qualified dentists. Schedule a free consultation with Aesthetic Dental Clinic to discover if dental implants are the right solution for you.
We’ll evaluate your oral health and discuss personalised treatment options. Contact us at (02) 4655 4438 to take the first step towards your brighter, healthier smile!
