What Can Prevent Me from Getting Dental Implants?

Dental implants are considered to be the best way to replace missing teeth. Since they look and work just like the real thing, they allow patients to enjoy a wide variety of foods while they go completely unnoticed by casual observers. However, there are certain conditions that can complicate or preclude a person from receiving dental implants. Here’s a brief list of a few of these conditions as well as how they may be addressed.

Gum Disease

Gum disease is among the leading causes of tooth loss. While dental implants are the ideal way to replace missing teeth, you will need healthy gums before you can receive them. If you have gum disease, it will need to be cleared up for dental implants to be placed. This can be achieved through periodontal treatments from your dentist as well as improving your oral hygiene routine.

Thin Jawbones

The teeth provide the jaws with stimulation during the chewing process, which helps them stay healthy and strong. After a tooth is lost, this exercise is lost with it, resulting in the jawbone beginning to atrophy and recede. Dental implants must be placed in a strong jaw to be successful, and if you’ve gone a long time with missing teeth, your jawbones may be too thin to host them. Luckily, many patients can reinforce their mandibles through bone grafting treatments. Dental implants can often be placed once the patient has fully healed afterward.

Diabetes and Other Conditions That Affect the Immune System

As with any surgery, a patient receiving dental implants will need an immune system healthy enough to repel infections after they are placed. Unfortunately, conditions like diabetes that hinder the immune system can complicate the implant placement process, leading to longer recovery periods. Luckily, patients with diabetes can often receive dental implants if the condition is controlled through medication and proper diet.

If you’re interested in dental implants, don’t despair because you deal with any of these conditions. Consulting with your dentist can potentially help you determine the best way to become a suitable candidate for implants.

About the Author

Dr. Justin M. Braga is a board-certified specialist in periodontics and dental implants who earned his dental degree at the University of the Pacific in San Francisco. He is proud to be a member of the American Dental Association, the California Dental Association, and the Western Society of Periodontology. His office in Huntington Beach, CA offers periodontal treatments and dental implant services. To schedule a dental implant consultation, contact him online or dial (714) 587-9094.