Advances in periodontal techniques now allow patients to improve both the health and the beauty of their smiles. Specifically, the wider use of dental implants has enabled periodontists to provide for the safe replacement of missing teeth. Restoring these teeth has given patients renewed self-confidence and improved their oral health. Most people are eligible for this procedure but it is important to schedule time for a discussion with your periodontist to make sure this treatment will have a high likelihood of success for you. It is critical to review any issues that might prevent you from receiving dental implants and examine any remedial measures that you can take to increase an optimal outcome These are some areas that need to be examined with your periodontist before moving forward.
Age Dental Implant surgery is not appropriate for children or adolescents because they are still experiencing growth. Their jawbones are not completely developed and will not provide a stable base to support a dental implant. Most young people will have completed growing by the age of 17 but your periodontist will want to make sure that jaw growth is complete before moving forward with dental implant surgery.
Overall Health Candidates for dental implant surgery need to be in good overall health with no serious disease. Your periodontist will want to discuss any chronic illness to be sure that you are under medical care for these issues. Some important areas for discussion are Type 2 Diabetes, Autoimmune Disorders, Arthritis, and High Blood Pressure. It is important that these conditions are controlled as they can cause potential problems with your dental implants. These conditions once caused a patient to be ineligible for dental implants but techniques and interventions used today can offer solutions to address these concerns. Additional areas of concern that will need discussion are Leukemia and other blood diseases, Bone Cancer, current chemotherapy or radiation treatment, Thyroid issues, and other areas where health is compromised. Your periodontist will help you to evaluate your challenges and determine if dental implant surgery is a recommended approach for your dental
Oral Health Your periodontist will want to be sure that you have good oral health and are free from gum disease. Dental implant surgery embeds the implant into your jawbone and it is vital that you have sufficient bone mass to support the dental implant. If your periodontist finds that your bone density is too low, he may recommend a bone graft before dental implants are viable.
Tobacco Use The habit of smoking is not only dangerous for your overall health but also presents important concerns for dental implant surgery. Smoking is a major factor in gum disease and patients who smoke may not have the level of oral health needed to undergo oral surgery. The healing process is negatively affected by smoking and can significantly slow the healing post-surgery. If you are a smoker, consider quitting now to best optimize the benefits of dental implant surgery and enhance your overall health.
While these conditions are potential problem areas for dental implant surgery, there are a number of innovative solutions that have been developed to address them. Schedule a consultation today with your periodontist to explore the options that might be available to you.
