Kingston TN
Did you know that more than 120 million Americans have lost at least one permanent tooth? Whether you’re living with a single missing tooth or profound tooth loss, you probably have heard about dental implants—either from friends who have one, doing research online, or from your own dentist. Made with titanium, an implant is considered the premier tooth replacement method available today thanks to its durability, look, and feel. Implants are a great choice to replace missing teeth, but they’re not for everyone. Today on the blog, your implant dentist in Kingston looks at four issues that can disqualify you from getting a dental implant.
Are implants right for you?
For any patient who is interested in dental implants, the first step is to schedule a consultation with your dentist. At this meeting, your dentist will review your medical history, dental history and evaluate your current oral health to assess your candidacy for implants.
Unfortunately, certain conditions can disqualify you from receiving implants. These conditions include:
Insufficient bone density: Bone deterioration is inevitable for people living with lost teeth. Deprived of the constant stimulation that comes from the tooth root, the supporting jawbone begins to diminish due to resorption, a process where your body reallocates resources for that section of bone elsewhere in the body. This attrition occurs more rapidly if you have several missing teeth. Other times, people are born with smaller jaws. In either case, you may not have enough bone support to properly anchor a dental implant.
Poor dental hygiene: You need to be in good oral health to receive dental implants. That means having healthy teeth and, especially, healthy gums. Gum disease significantly increases your risk of implant failure. While age isn’t a disqualifying factor for implants in and of itself, your risk of gum disease does increase as you get older. Periodontal disease affects nearly 50 percent of all American adults over the age of 30, and impacts more than 70 percent of adults 65 and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We can treat periodontal disease in Kingston as a precursor to an implant procedure.
Tobacco: Using tobacco in any form raises your risk of complications in an implant procedure, up to and including rejection of the implant. We advise any patient who is interested in implants to quit smoking before the process begins, so that healing is not hindered while the implant fuses with your jawbone.
Pre-existing conditions: Certain chronic ailments can affect your candidacy for dental implants. These conditions include diabetes and osteoporosis. This is why one of our implant dentists in Kingston reviews your medical history during your initial consultation.
Replacing lost teeth in Kingston, Tennessee
Implants might be considered the finest method of tooth replacement, but they aren’t the only option. Removable dentures and dental bridges also can be used to replace lost teeth, as long as they are on the same dental arch. To find out more if a dental implant is right for you, schedule a consultation at LakeView Dental Arts today by calling (865) 376-9687 or contacting us online.
