Are You Suitable for Dental Implants?

Dental implants are permanent artificial tooth root prosthetic for replacing natural tooth with a metallic screw working as a replaced tooth root, that can support artificial teeth.

How is the implant procedure carried out?

After initial testing and though check up the dental surgeon begins the procedure by inserting a metal screw, generally made of titanium into the jawbone. The screw stays there for a few months for dental tissues to surround it. The bone tissues grow around the metal screw binding it to the jaw bone till it thickly gets embedded into the bone. This process is called osseointegration. After it is totally into the bone, the dentist will put an abutment onto its top part which sill be able to support the artificial crown replaced for a natural lost tooth. After the artificial crowns are placed on the implant, the chewing process will strengthen it by stimulating the bone to grow more and will make it stronger in the process.

Why should you opt for dental implants?

You should opt for dental implants because dental implant procedure has improved over the years and it enjoys almost 98% success rate. One implant can support more than one tooth. With implants you need not wear dentures. You can also have permanent dentures fixed on dental implants.

Who can avail of the dental implant procedure?

Anyone who is an adult, healthy, and has lost a tooth or many teeth can opt for dental implants as a way for replacing missing and lost teeth.

There are a few conditions though for dental implants to succeed.

Age

There is no age limit for having dental implants. The lower age limit could be the maturity of your dental structure and mouth. If your mouth muscles, and gums are fully developed and you have all your permanent teeth in place, also  you are in charge of your own decisions, than you can get implants. There is no upper age limit as long as you have sufficient bone mass, healthy gums and no medicinal requirement for other illnesses, then you are eligible to get implants.

Oral health and gum diseases

You should not have any gum disease. Before you consider getting implants, your dental surgeon will check for the oral health. If you have cavities, dental caries as they are referred to, your dentist will have to clear those and restore them to perfect health. If any root canals are need, you have to get them done and cavities filled with dental fillings, and capped so that there is no further occurrence of decay there. Bacterial growth in gums cannot let bone tissue grow around your implant, that is why your dentist will treat the gum disease and make your gums bacteria and disease free before taking up implant surgery.

Sufficient bone mass

For implants to be inserted into the bones, it is imperative that there is enough depth and width of bone to accommodate the metal screw and then to let the bone tissue grow. If after missing your teeth your jaw bone was not used enough than because of lack of stimulation provided by the process of chewing, the bone must have reabsorbed in the body. If resorption has taken place, your dental surgeon may consider bone grafting in your jaw bone provided you have robust general health.

Medical conditions and illnesses

Heart disease: Heart disease patients are typically on medicines that thins the blood. These medicines will not allow the bone mass to grow tissues around the metal post fast enough making the post weak, not able to support the crown.

Unchecked diabetes: The sugar in the blood will not allow the healing process important after surgery so that healthy tissues begin building around the metal screw.

Cancer: The condition of the cancer patient is not suitable for the implant to succeed. There can be a danger of complicating the surgery.

 If you have serious illnesses like heart disease, diabetes or cancer, it will be difficult to proceed with implants. Before considering for dental implants, you need to talk to your dentist all about your illnesses and the medication you take for it. There are certain medicines which will impede the healing process after the implant surgery.

Anxiety and depression: Patients who suffer from depression may be taking anti-depressants. These medicines can block the rebuilding of bones and affect the implant stability.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease: These patients are on medicines that interfere with certain mineral and vitamin absorption which can interfere with dental implant surgery and healing.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis: These patients also take medicines which can interfere with bone mass generation and healing after surgery.

Drug and tobacco

Tobacco and substance abuse can interfere with the growth of healthy bone tissue around the implant. Tobacco negatively influences the dental implant surgery because it does not allow osseointegration process which is vital for the implant to stay rooted. Tobacco and drug abuse also have negative impact on implants because these substances make it difficult to keep oral hygiene in and around the jawbone where implant is placed. The drugs and tobacco can increase the risk of periimplantitis if continued after the surgery.

The drug users and smokers have an increased risk of cancers of the mouth and other organs. All these conditions put a question mark on the success of dental implants for drug users and smokers.

Need for healthy oral care habits

If you are stickler for healthy oral care routine, then you can surely opt for dental implants. Once you have the implants placed in your jawbone, it is very important to take care of its surroundings. If you do not follow simple oral care routine, you will have plaque on your teeth and also on the artificial tooth supported by the implant. The bacteria can and will travel to your jaw and spread the decay in the gums putting the life of the implant in danger.