The word is out that dental implants can help people who have suffered from dental problems for years. Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth and to secure bridges.
Many people who can benefit from dental implants think that they may not be suitable candidates for the procedure. Some patients have come to my office for a consultation after having been told by their dentist that implants were not an option for them. As it turns out, almost all of these people actually were able to successfully receive implant treatment.
Let's talk about some of the genuine concerns that many people have regarding dental implants.
Age
Older age is generally not a limitation to receiving implant treatment. If a person is in reasonably good health, there is no specific age limit to having dental implants placed. Concerning young people, we generally place implants after growth has been completed - usually the later teen years.
Medical Conditions
Generally speaking, if a person's medical condition allows them to have routine dental treatment, such as having a tooth removed, they can also have an implant placed. Certain medical conditions do require that precautions are taken. Conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease that are under control with medication are usually not an obstacle to receiving dental implant treatment.
History of Gum Disease or "bad teeth"
I have found that some people who need dental implants the most believe that implants would not last because of the problems that they had with their own teeth. This is definitely not the case. Almost all implants have been placed in patients who have lost their teeth to gum (periodontal) disease or decay, with very high success rates.
Having partials or dentures for many years
These are not factors that limit the use of implants. For patients in this situation, fixed (permanent) teeth can either replace the removable bridges or dentures, or implants can be used to stabilize and secure the denture, making it much more comfortable.
Smoking
Smoking can lower the success rate of implants, but this does not exclude a person from getting them. Even if someone has smoked heavily for many years and stopped, placing implants can still be highly successful.
Bone Loss
Implants are held in place by the bone located under the gums. Many people who have lost teeth or had gum (periodontal) disease have lost some bone. Fortunately, we have modern techniques to add bone (bone grafting) and to help the body produce more bone around the implants.
As you can see, most people who can benefit from dental implants are candidates to get this treatment. It has been rewarding for me to help patients get the treatment that they wanted but thought was out of reach for them. If you believe that dental implants can benefit you, please contact our office.
