Braces versus Retainers: A Comprehensive Overveiw

Factors affecting dental implant candidacy

31 August 2017 by Lonnie Bryant

Missing or loose teeth can lead to a host of dental health problems and a crisis of confidence if left untreated. The rest of the other teeth could shift to occupy the space left by a missing tooth, resulting in bite alignment problems. Moreover, missing teeth can lead to deterioration of one's jawbone, in turn causing further teeth loss while creating a hollow facial impression. What's more, you may feel embarrassed to smile in front of people. Dental implants can help you steer clear of these problems. Although dental implants are an effective solution for missing teeth, not everyone is an ideal candidate. A visit to your dentist can help you determine whether you are a good candidate for dental implant procedure.

Adequate bone support

Generally, dental implants are fused with the jawbone.  Therefore, an ideal candidate for dental implant procedure should have adequate bone structure in their jaw in order to support the dental implant. Lack of strong jawbone density may render the implant unable to endure the extreme forces exerted during chewing or biting. Consequently, the implant will fail. In this regard, children are not good candidates for implant dentistry because their jawbones haven't developed sufficiently. For adults who lack adequate bone support, they can be subjected to a bone graft or mini implant to re-establish enough jaw bone density prior to undergoing the implant procedure.

Gum disease

Another criterion affecting dental implant candidacy is healthy gums. Often, gum disease leads to infections attacking your gums, jaw bone and the ligaments responsible for anchoring your teeth. Eventually, this leads to tooth loss. Gum disease patients need first to undergo periodontal treatment before they can proceed with dental implant procedure. Healthy gums improve the chances of your mouth successfully anchoring dental implants. 

Tobacco use

Patients fond of smoking or chewing tobacco pose serious risks to their oral health. Tobacco use increases the threat of gum disease and affects bone healing. Smoking often leads to dental implant failure by causing the body to create a fibrous tissue next to the implant rather than the jawbone and this tissue is extremely soft to anchor the implants.

Medical conditions

For patients with untreated conditions that would slow down the success of healing following implant surgery, dental implants may not be suitable for them.  Medications beings used by a patient may also hamper the placement of implants if they actually interfere with healing process or the surgical procedure itself. Case in point, medications for cancer or blood clotting is a concern for dental implant candidacy.

If you have missing or damaged teeth and wish to ascertain whether or not you qualify for dental implant procedure, schedule a consultation with your dentist.

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