When you consider dental implants, it is important to realize that they are changing how we think about replacing teeth. The days when the only option was a gummy and gooey mess of adhesives to bond our dentures is gone, replaced by a system that not only replaces the outer tooth, but also the root for better longevity and stability. Dental implants are literally implanted into the gum, so there is an element of permanence involved with this procedure not previously found in older solutions to tooth loss.
As with any newer product, many of our patients have questions about how well dental implants work, what the procedures are to get them, and if there are any conditions that may preclude someone from getting dental implants. The last question is often a complicated one, because, in theory, anyone can get dental implants. The reality is, however, that there are certain factors that must be considered before we can move ahead with placing dental implants. For one, you need to be healthy enough for oral surgery. Dental implants are placed by a skilled dentist or oral surgeon, who inserts them into the jawbone itself. This surgical procedure also requires that your mouth be in good health, which creates a set of circumstances that may preclude you from getting dental implants. Sometimes, this preclusion can be temporary while, at other times, it may be permanent.
A few of the reasons why you may not be able to get a dental implant are because you have ongoing radiation treatments for cancer, have untreated or out-of-control diabetes, have periodontal disease that needs addressing, or because of a smoking or alcohol habit.
Dental implants are typically very successful. According to some studies, the success rate of dental implants can be as high as 98 percent. Part of the reason why they are so successful is because of the care we take before placing the implants to ensure that you are able to successfully receive dental implants. To do this, we will conduct a thorough and complete examination, which will involve procedures like x-rays and CT scans. This dental imaging is done primarily to give us a good idea of the condition of your jawbone with regard to its density and how well it could sustain and support a dental implant.
In cases where we know the tooth has been lost and there is not enough bone density to support the implant, we can do other procedures, like an onlay bone graft, to bulk up the bone and ensure that it has the density needed to support an implant procedure. At other times, we can perform what is known as an alveolar bone graft for the same reasons. Our goal is to provide you with dental implants that stand the test of time, where success is measured in decades, not just years. For a few lucky patients, they have sufficient bone density to proceed directly to the implant stage, which is known as immediate implant placement.