If you have missing teeth and are looking for an option for replacing them, you should think about dental implants. Maybe you are someone who had a bad experience with bridges or dentures. If so, dental implants may be the answer for you. Dental implants are a prosthetic device that feels and looks like real teeth. People who get dental implants regain the ability to eat food and chew gum without having to remove any false teeth again.
You must be a good candidate for the implants, and everyone is not. Before a dentist considers them an option for you, a dental screening is performed by your dentist to make sure you are a qualified candidate for the treatment. Your oral health is assessed first. One of the biggest problems with teeth missing and infections in the mouth is that after some time, they will cause a reduction in the amount of bone available in the gums. To receive dental implants, you must have an ample amount of bone in the mouth. The bone in the gum is for anchoring the dental implants so they have stability and proper placement.
Not only must you have good bone structure, but the patient must have excellent gum health. It is important to know that dental implants go directly through the gums and then become attached to the bones in the jaw. If you have any type of history of having gum disease or any reoccurring infections in the gums, you may not be a good candidate for dental implants.
Your dentist will take into consideration how often you had any emergency mouth treatment and oral infections recently. They will consider how well you are taking care of your teeth. If you hope to have osseo-integrated implants, you would have to be very diligent in the way you take care of your gums and teeth.
The ideal candidate for dental implants is the older individual whose bone structure in the mouth has completely developed. If a person has any history of gum disease, the disease needs treatment and curing before the person is considered a candidate for dental implants. For patients who have diabetes, they would have to meet with their physician first. This is because diabetes can increase the patients risk for complications. Smokers will have to use another type of treatment such as bridges and dentures, because smoking impairs the ability the body has to heal itself, and healing is required for the implants to be a success.
If you are interested in dental implants, now is the time to speak to your dentist. They will give you a referral to a cosmetic dentist who can provide you with more answers and consult with you about the implant process. They can provide you with a dental image of the look you will have after the procedure is done. Everyone should know that they will have minor discomfort for a short period of time after the procedure. Once the procedure is complete, you can show the entire world your new smile.
