What are Aspects of an Ideal Candidate?
When we look at a patient during their dental implant consultation, there are certain factors we look at to determine their candidacy. These are:
- A Legitimate Need: Here at our office, we are not in the habit of pulling teeth that are perfectly healthy just to replace them with dental implants. In order to qualify for this treatment, you must be either missing teeth or be at risk to lose teeth.
- Good Oral Health: In order for dental implants to properly osseointegrate and heal, your mouth must be free of dangerous oral conditions, which can compromise the process.
- Stable Overall Health: Before you can undergo any type of surgery, your health must be stable in order to prevent any complications.
- Adequate Jawbone and Gum Density: Dental implants rely on your jawbone and gums for support. That said, both of these structures can deteriorate over time after a tooth has been lost. In order to qualify, these structures must be strong enough for osseointegration to succeed.
- Willingness to Follow Doctor’s Orders: You will need to be willing to follow any doctor’s orders you receive in order to ensure that the implant heals properly.
What are Aspects of a Less-Than-Ideal Candidate?
For some patients, their journey to a complete smile with dental implants can be delayed due to a condition or habit they have at the time of their consultation. Some reasons a patient may be considered less-than-ideal include:
- Pregnancy: For women who are pregnant, it is heavily advised that they avoid any non-essential surgical procedures. This includes dental implants. Our pregnant patients will need to wait until their child has been delivered before they can move forward with the implant process.
- Youth: When we are young, our jawbone is in a state of growth and change. Until this process has stabilized, these patients will not be able to replace missing teeth with dental implants.
- Smoking and Alcoholism: Both tobacco and alcohol slow the flow of blood in your body, which makes it harder for your body to heal. If the jawbone is not getting the blood it needs to successfully heal around your implant fixture, then the process will fail.