Am I a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

According to the American College of Prosthodontists, up to 178 million adults in the US are missing at least one tooth. If you are among the many adults missing a tooth, you may consider dental implants to rebuild your smile. While it has become the new standard of tooth replacement, patients still need to meet certain requirements to receive implants.

Maxillofacial Surgical Arts & Implant Centers (MOSAIC) in Clearwater, FL, specializes in dental implants to restore the appearance and function of your missing teeth. For patients interested in dental implants, there are a few key factors to consider.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are among the best solutions for missing teeth. An implant offers a permanent anchor for your dental prosthetic, allowing crowns, bridges, and dentures to look and feel like your natural teeth while preserving the health of your jawbone. 

Dental implants are titanium posts that our surgeons surgically implant into your jawbone, where the posts fuse to the bone. By becoming part of your jawbone itself, an implant mimics a missing tooth’s root, providing security to your prosthetic and maintaining the structure of your jaw.

How Do I Qualify for Dental Implants?

The majority of patients can be good candidates for dental implants. However, determining your candidacy requires an evaluation by the surgeons at MOSAIC. This evaluation considers several components of your health that can impact the success of your implantation.

Gum Health

If you have gum disease, you will want to ensure the condition is resolved or controlled before receiving dental implants. With a 95% success rate, dental implants rarely fail. However, uncontrolled gum disease is one of the primary risks of implant failure. Gum disease can lead to gum recession, which, in turn, causes bone recession. As a result, the implants cannot fuse properly to the jaw. 

Bone Density

Because dental implants fuse to your bone tissue after implantation, patients require sufficient bone tissue to place the implants. If you do not have adequate bone density, you may require bone grafting surgery to restore your jaw before receiving implants. 

Oral Health and Hygiene

Your oral health and hygiene play a critical role in the success of your dental implant procedure. Without proper oral hygiene, you can develop problems affecting the health of your gums and jawbone. 

Patients who regularly brush and floss their teeth and maintain appointments with their dentists are typically good candidates for dental implants.

Bruxism

Bruxism is grinding or clenching of teeth. It places significant pressure or strain on your teeth, far more than chewing. In addition, chronic bruxism reduces your candidacy for dental implants, as the increased stress on the implants can keep them from properly fusing to the jawbone. 

If you suffer from chronic bruxism, treatments are available to reduce the impact on your teeth. 

Tobacco Use

Chewing or smoking tobacco affects your body’s ability to heal and increases your risk for gum disease and bone recession. This can hinder the implants’ fusion to the jawbone. 

Determine Your Dental Implant Candidacy at MOSAIC

MOSAIC is your friendly dental implant destination in Tampa, FL. Our compassionate, specialized oral surgeons can rebuild your smile and restore the function of your teeth through dental implants. 

Learn more about smile restoration with Maxillofacial Surgical Arts & Implant Centers today.