If you are among the 178 million Americans who have lost one or more teeth, the good news is that dental implants are an excellent way to fill out your smile and get most of your bite power back. Dental implants are a preferred tooth replacement option by many dentists, but they aren’t for everyone. To help you determine if they’re the right choice for you, here are five qualities a good dental implant candidate in Mesquite should have.
Quality #1: Excellent Oral Hygiene
Proving that you’ll take good care of your implants by already having great oral hygiene is an important qualifier for the procedure. Just like natural teeth, dental implants need to be brushed twice and flossed once per day to keep them in good condition. Additionally, consider using mouthwash to eliminate harmful bacteria in difficult-to-reach places. Excellent oral hygiene is essential for keeping yourself healthy after dental implant surgery and for the long-term success of your dental implants.
Quality #2: Healthy Gums
Since dental implants are inserted directly through the gums and into the jawbone, patients must have healthy gums before proceeding. If plaque builds up along the gumline, this can cause an infection and will ultimately create pockets in the gums where harmful bacteria can accumulate. Without treatment, the bacteria will attack the bone in the jaw and cause both your dental implants and your natural teeth to fail.
Quality #3: Good Lifestyle Choices
If you plan on getting dental implants, smoking and heavy drinking will need to be avoided. Not only are smokers twice as likely to develop gum disease as nonsmokers, but smoking before surgery can also contribute to bone loss. This makes it more difficult for dental implants to be placed into the jawbone. Smokers also have a significantly higher chance of implant failure since smoking slows down the healing process. This puts you at a much higher risk of gum disease, infection, and failed osseointegration. In addition, excessive drinking can cause dry mouth and inhibit the clotting of blood.
Quality #4: Healthy Jawbone
Dental implants fuse with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration, which is where they get their unmatched stability. That’s why having a healthy jaw is crucial to being a good candidate for them. Since missing teeth lead to bone loss because the jawbone is no longer being stimulated in those areas, a bone graft may be necessary to adequately support implants.
Quality #5: Great Overall Health
Diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions may put dental implant patients at an increased risk for complications. Diabetes makes the body more prone to infections and less effective at fighting them, so patients with this condition may be more likely to experience implant failure. It can also inhibit with osseointegration. Additionally, heart disease interferes with the effectiveness of anesthesia. This is why you must inform your dentist of any chronic conditions you have so they can determine if dental implants are a good option for you.
Make an appointment to see your Mesquite dentist so you can discuss the above factors and decide if dental implants are the right tooth replacement choice. Whether you get implants or a different tooth replacement option, you will soon be on your way to a fuller smile.
About the Practice
Texas Dentistry offers efficient, effective care for the whole family in their conveniently located Mesquite dental office. Their caring and highly trained team focuses on ensuring that you feel safe and comfortable throughout your treatment. If you’re considering dental implants, one of their four dentists can help you go over the qualifications and potentially help you become a good candidate. Visit their website or call their office at (972) 329-4200 to learn more about how to determine if you’re a good candidate for dental implants.