Dental Implant Candidates
Charleston, WV
 Many people who are missing teeth have, at one time or another, considered dental implants. We here at Revive Dental and Implant Center get a lot of calls from people asking what dental implants are and if they would qualify as a candidate for implants. Let’s just talk about that a little bit here.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental Implants have been a successful means of dental restoration for over 40 years. Over time, the precision and the procedure itself have improved with advancements in digital, radiography, and 3 and 4D scanning technology. At present, the dental implant procedure is believed to be the prevailing method for replacing neglected, infected, or missing teeth.
Am I Able to Receive Dental Implants?
Before we discuss giving you implants, we must establish that implants are the correct solution for the dental problem you have. Not all dental problems can be solved with dental implants and not all people can have dental implants. So, what do we look for?
At the top of the list is that you must be in satisfactory general health. If you have any health conditions such as diabetes or heart disease or you are on select prescription medications that might impede your post-surgical recuperation and healing, it is likely that you might have to think about different tooth restoration options and treatments.
A dental implant candidate would need both acceptable jawbone mass as well as jawbone density. What does that mean? Dental implants require an ample support structure within the jaw and if you are lacking enough, strong, healthy bone, your implant may fail.
In terms of jawbone density, the jawbone needs enough bone density to anchor the implant. If the issue is that density is lacking, we may be able to perform a bone graft to help support and create the foundation needed for effective assimilation.
Healthy gums are vital for proper healing. If you have infected gums or gum disease that has been left untreated, this will stop the healing of the dental implant, which, of course, considerably diminishes the success of the restoration. If you have periodontal disease you will have to receive periodontal treatment prior to receiving your implants.
Last and certainly not least, you, the patient, must be certain that you can comply with the oral regimen necessary after the implant procedure. Your new dental implants will involve the same level of on-going attention and upkeep that your natural teeth do. This means you must brush for 2.5 minutes twice daily and floss at least once per day. If you smoke, you must quit. Not only will smoking negatively affect the healing process, but once healed, it can also cause the implant to fail due to the effect smoking has on your teeth and gums.
If you grind your teeth, let us know so we can institute corrective measures prior to the implant process. Usually, that would simply involve a mouth guard to wear when you sleep. You can also wear one when you are awake, or you can attempt to control it yourself.
Please set up a consultative appointment with us here at Revive Dental and Implant Center so we can answer your questions and address your concerns. Once we know what your goals are, we can determine if dental implants are the right option for you. If you are not a good candidate for implants, we will be able to help you choose from a number of alternative dental restoration options. Give us a call at (304) 467-4265 and let us schedule that appointment for you.
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