Dental Implant Candidate Requirements
Do you qualify for dental implants? If you have missing teeth, Phoenix dental implants are one of the best ways to restore your smile. But there are specific types of criteria you’ll need to meet in order to make sure you qualify for this revolutionary treatment.
You Have Missing Teeth
It might sound silly, but we don’t want to extract perfectly healthy teeth just to replace them with dental implants. If there’s another way to preserve your tooth, we’ll want to do so. But if your tooth is non-restorable and needs to be extracted, you may still be able to get a dental implant (as long as the tissues are healthy.)
You Have Healthy Gum Tissues
The #1 cause of dental implant failure is a type of gum disease known as peri-implantitis. Essentially, it’s the implant form of periodontal disease. Your gums need to be healthy and free of inflammation if you want to get dental implants. Issues such as swelling and bleeding need to be managed first. Fortunately, good oral hygiene and professional dental cleanings are usually all you’ll need to finally get those issues under control. If the disease is aggressive and you still have natural teeth, you and Dr. Behbahani will need to discuss whether they can be preserved.
There’s Enough Bone to Support an Implant
In order for a dental implant to be placed into your mouth, you need enough dense bone to fully encircle the implant structure. If you have bone loss where the jaw is too thin or short, a dental implant cannot physically or safely fit into that area.
Depending on which part of your mouth is under question, it may be possible to place the implant at a different angle or in an adjacent space. Bone grafting can also improve the density of your bone support, improving the success of your implant treatment.
You’re an Adult
Dental implants are not designed for children or teens. Since their mouths are still developing, placing a permanent restoration inside of the bone could alter their oral anatomy. It’s best to find an interim tooth replacement for temporary purposes, then discuss getting an implant when their mouth is fully developed. Usually, this will be around age 18.
You’ve Gone Through a Medical Screening
Occasionally we’ll see specific types of medical conditions or prescription medications that interfere with dental implant treatment. During your consultation, we’ll go through a list of risk factors that we’ll want to rule out. Be sure to bring a list of any medicines or supplements that you’re currently taking.
More People Qualify Than Ever Before
In years past, qualifying for dental implants was challenging. The ultra-strict criteria and limited training of dentists made it difficult to access treatment for a lot of people. Today, that’s not the case. Advanced technology, modern dental implant techniques, and the intense training that our Phoenix implant dentist has gone through make implants accessible to more people than ever before.
Are dental implants right for you? Contact our dentist in Phoenix today to reserve a consultation.
