Dental Implants: Three Issues Worth Considering

26 December 2019
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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When you've had a painful tooth removed from your mouth, your relief may be immense. Your dentist may have talked to you about the need for further dental work so that you don't live with an empty space in your mouth; dental implants could have been suggested as one solution. However, you might not have taken the idea then; when you're ready to seriously consider the implant procedure, remember these issues.

Candidate Suitability

If you suddenly decide that an implant sounds good, you might want to call the dentist and set up an implantation procedure right away. However, you'd be assuming that you're a solid candidate for an implant, which may not be true. Even if your dentist has discussed implants informally with you in the past, you may be surprised that a consultation and battery of tests is necessary before an implant goes anywhere near your mouth. That's generally because your gums and overall health need to be evaluated. For instance, your dentist will investigate your jawbone density to determine whether it's strong enough to support both the procedure and the implant itself.

Your dentist will likely ask if you smoke, whether you have serious or chronic heart problems, and how strong your immune system is. They'll likely run blood tests and other tests before confirming that an implant is appropriate. If you have health issues that must be resolved first, your dentist will discuss those and you'll know what actions should happen next so that you can be approved for the procedure later.

Possible Infections

One reason that you'll be screened for health issues before implantation is that your jaw and gums must be able to heal properly. An infection in the area of a new implant could be extraordinarily painful and could ultimately destroy some of your existing jaw bone, even though that's not common. Be aware that good aftercare of a new implant is vital to protect your jaw and your gums.

Longevity of Implants

Some people aren't convinced that dental implants are good long-term solutions to teeth loss. However, implants are typically long lasting; one factor that affects the longevity of any implant is your ability to follow up and maintain visits to your dentist. With commitment to keeping regular appointments, your dentist can observe any early problems or notice any minor trouble soon enough to repair it before it becomes too much of a nuisance for you.