Missing teeth can severely disrupt your everyday life. You might feel dissatisfied with your smile’s aesthetics, struggle with oral function, and possess a greater risk of other dental complications when you lose one or more teeth. Fortunately, a dentist can provide highly beneficial tooth replacement with dental implants.
These fixed devices can restore your oral health with maximum advantages following tooth loss. But not all dental patients will qualify for this treatment.
A dentist will thoroughly evaluate your dental needs and oral health to determine if you can receive implants successfully. But you can also read on to learn three characteristics a dentist will look for in an ideal implant dentistry candidate.
You Seek Permanent Tooth Replacement
Patients should note that dental implants are known as permanent tooth replacement solutions. This is because the fixture relies on a surgically placed titanium post anchor in the jaw. As you heal, it fuses with the jawbone for a lasting, strong foundation to support the dental prosthetic.
Many people appreciate the enduring benefits. They do not have to worry about the appliance slipping out of place at an inopportune moment.
However, others may prefer the flexibility of removable dentures that they can take out of the mouth when not in use. But then you might not experience as many advantages of treatment that extends below the gumline. You can discuss your comfort levels and oral health goals with your dentist to learn if implant dentistry is right for you.
You Maintain a Strong, Stable Jawbone
In order for the fusion of the dental implant anchor to occur successfully within the jaw, you must retain enough healthy bone there as well as gum tissue. Unfortunately, when you lose one or more teeth, the jawbone may deteriorate in their absence. And if gum disease causes your tooth loss, you might see gum recession as a result of the infection.
With too much dental damage like this, you cannot sustain a dental implant. Your dentist might suggest a bone graft or a gum graft to add structure to the mouth that might ultimately support the device.
The dentist will check your dental structure using x-ray imaging to ensure you have a strong enough jaw for the implant dentistry process. So do not delay scheduling this dental evaluation.
You Exhibit Commitment to the Implant Dentistry Process
Receiving dental implants will not yield immediate results. You will need to attend three or more appointments at your dentist’s office over the course of several months to complete the treatment.
So the ideal dental implant candidate will need to understand the process and exhibit patience during this period. They should focus on the finished product and the lifelong benefits they can experience at the conclusion of the treatment.
Patients will need to attend a consultation to ensure they qualify for implant dentistry initially. Then they will undergo oral surgery to receive the implant anchors.
It will take at least six months to recover from this procedure and to finish the anchor fusion process. Then you return to the dentist to receive the crown, bridge, or denture prosthetics to restore your smile.