In the United States, an estimated 178 million people are missing at least one tooth and 40 million are missing all of them. Though this can cause people to feel insecure in their smiles, dental implants offer an excellent solution to missing teeth and are durable, reliable, and permanent. With a 95% success rate, they are the replacement option of choice for many. If you’re interested in getting dental implants, you’ll need to take care of these four things before proceeding.
Issue #1. Inadequate Bone Density
Dental implants are titanium posts that replace the roots of teeth. In order to do this, they are surgically inserted into the jawbone. Once there, they fuse with it through a process called osseointegration over the next four to six months. It’s important to have a strong, dense jawbone before you move forward with the procedure. Since missing teeth no longer provide the jawbone with the stimulation it needs to remain healthy, this can lead to erosion. Your dentist will take X-rays to determine if you’ve lost any jawbone density. If it isn’t thick or strong enough to adequately support dental implants, they will likely recommend a bone graft to build it up.
Issue #2. Unhealthy Gums
During the implant process, an incision will be made in our gums so your implant surgeon can access the jawbone. Any oral health issues related to your gums, such as periodontal disease, will need to be addressed before proceeding. This will keep the procedure from making the infection worse and will help prevent implant failure.
Issue #3. Lack of Good Oral Hygiene
If you don’t brush twice and floss once per day, harmful oral bacteria will thrive. These bacteria can feed off of the sugar in the foods you eat and release acids that eat away at your enamel. This will make you much more likely to develop cavities. If the decay gets bad enough, the tooth may need to be pulled. The resulting lack of stimulation may result in jawbone deterioration. Oral bacteria can also cause gum disease, which can lead to implant failure and keep you from getting the treatment in the first place.
Issue #4. Use of Tobacco Products
Smoking cigarettes and using other tobacco products sharply raises your chances of gum disease, dry mouth, cavities, and even oral cancer. It can also impede osseointegration, which may result in implant failure. Ask your doctor, dentist, or therapist for resources to help you quit.
Though there are several things that can keep you from getting dental implants, good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist will go a long way. By taking good care of your mouth, you can avoid oral health issues and soon be sporting a gorgeous grin you love.
