Dental implants may have the highest success rate of any surgically implanted device in the world, but unfortunately, this doesn’t mean everyone is automatically considered a suitable candidate for the procedure. Since it is a surgical process, it is absolutely essential that we fully assess patients for their suitability for dental implants before we start planning or executing the treatment, and this is a responsibility that we take extremely seriously.

Here is what you need to know about how we assess your suitability for this transformative tooth replacement solution.

Your dental requirements

Unsurprisingly, one of the first things that we will look at when determining whether you are a candidate for dental implants will be your dental requirements. How many teeth do you need to be replaced? Do the surrounding teeth require any work? Are your gums healthy? These questions and more will be considered when we determine if dental implants might be the best solution for your individual requirements.

Assessing the health of your jaw

The success of dental implants hinges primarily on one crucial element – the health and density of your jaw bone. Once the titanium posts are inserted into the jaw, the bone, which is living tissue, should detect the trauma caused to place them and heal around them, securing them permanently in place. However, for the bone to be able to do this it needs to be strong and healthy. Unfortunately, bone deterioration is a common problem that is associated with tooth loss. The longer you have been living with tooth loss, the more likely you are to have an insufficient healthy bone in your jaw for a dental implant procedure.

The good news is that this doesn’t necessarily preclude you from receiving dental implants. Instead, you may just need to have a procedure known as bone grafting ahead of undergoing dental implant surgery.

Your lifestyle

You might not think that your chosen lifestyle has any bearing on whether or not you are a good candidate for dental implants. Unfortunately, you would be incorrect. There is a degree of risk associated with dental implants for anyone that undergoes the procedure, and some factors can increase the likelihood that you would experience complications as a result of your dental implant procedure. If this is the case for you, you will be found to be unsuitable and will be recommended an alternative solution. We are within our rights to refuse candidacy for dental implants to anyone who we feel the procedure would be detrimental or too high-risk. If any of the following apply to you, you may be refused a dental implant procedure:

• You are a smoker
• You are trying to conceive, are currently pregnant or are actively nursing an infant
• You are under 18 and/or your jaw bone has not finished developing
• You have been diagnosed with certain health conditions including diabetes, hemophilia and auto-immune disorders such as Lupus

If you would like to arrange an appointment for our skilled and experienced dentists to assess your candidacy for dental implants, please contact our dental practice in Sherman, TX today.