WHO IS A CANDIDATE?
Dental implants are a fairly common dental procedure, with over 100 million Americans estimated to have dental issues that can be treated with dental implants. Dental implants are a type of permanent, surgical restoration, which is meant to replace missing teeth. Here at Amherst Village Dental, we are pleased to offer a variety of dental implants to our patients to best fit their unique needs.
What Kinds Of Dental Implants Are There?
Dental implants fall within a few different categories, depending on the kind of dental issue that it is meant to treat. The most common dental implant procedure is the endosteal dental implant. This type of dental implant uses a variety of screws, cylinders, or blades to become surgically fixed into the jawbone. Each individual implant can hold either a single tooth or multiple if adjacent teeth are missing. This procedure is often done when patients have had prior dental work, such as bridges or dentures.
The second major category of dental implants are the subperiosteal, or on the bone, dental implants. This type of dental implant is placed above the jaw, with the metal framework of the dental implant extending out of the gums, in order to hold the prosthesis. This procedure is most commonly used if a patient is either unable to use conventional dentures, or if they have minimal bone height.
Who Is A Good Candidate For Dental Implants?
Most people who need dental implants are eligible for the procedure, but there are definitely a few characteristics that make a patient more ideal. Because dental implants rely heavily on the underlying jawbone and gums, this means that both should ideally be healthy. This also means that adults are typically better candidates for this procedure, as their jaws have finished developing, unlike younger patients who may have some development left for their jawbone.
Additionally, certain lifestyle choices or situations may make a person a poor candidate for dental implants. A common lifestyle choice that detracts from one’s dental implant candidacy is smoking. This is because smoking interferes with the healing process after a dental implant procedure has been completed, making it harder for the patient to recover. Furthermore, people who suffer from bruxism, commonly known as teeth grinding or clenching, may not be ideal candidates for dental implants. Issues could arise due to bruxism, as teeth grinding can place undue pressure on the implant, causing it to fail.
Ultimately, the vast majority of people in need of a dental implant should have a healthy jawbone and gums in order to be considered an ideal candidate. Regardless, even if the absence of good jawbone health or gum health, proper treatment of any health issues can mitigate these potential risk factors.
If you have been looking to get a dental implant to get your smile back to its original luster, but you are not sure if it will be the right fit, then we would be happy to discuss it with you further. To learn more, please give us here at Amherst Village Dental a call today at 603-769-8985.
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Don’t let failing and missing teeth keep you from feeling confident or from doing the things you love. Call us today at 603-673-5510 to invest into your health, your life, and your future.