What could make me a poor candidate for dental implants?

Dental Implants are small titanium screws that imitate teeth roots and are placed in the jaw bone to have a tooth crown attached where teeth are missing. These little fake tooth roots and crowns can be as strong as actual teeth and offer an alternative to bridges and dentures.

You might be considering implants as dentures and bridges can cause damage to your teeth. To be a good candidate for dental implants, you need to be in a condition where your gums and jawbone can heal fast. There are a myriad of conditions that can prevent this from happening.

Conditions that Cause Implant Failure

If you have any of the following conditions, speak with your dentist about alternative options to dental implants:

• Diabetes

• Cancer

• Gum Disease

• Thyroid problems

• Blood diseases

• Bruxism

• Alcohol habits

• Smoking habits

• Use of medications

Conditions like Diabetes, Cancer, Gum Disease, Thyroid problems, and blood diseases can inhibit healing and the connection between the bone and the implant. Lack of healing can lead to infection and implant failure. As the implant healing process is already up to six months, any healing issue can make the process fail.

Habit-related conditions such as Bruxism (chronic teeth-grinding), alcohol consumption, smoking, and medication use can cause either tooth decay or severe dehydration. These factors prohibit the jaw bone from healing to the implant.

Implants and Other Options

Even with any of these conditions, your situation might be unique. If you are considering implants, schedule a consultation with My Ogden Dentist today.