There is a lot to learn about dental implants and gum disease. As much as they are different individually, they also have much in common. Read on to learn about dental implants and gum disease.

What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is a tooth replacement option that acts as a tooth root. Your dentist inserts it into your jawbone and then places a crown on top. It has many benefits, such as additional stability and durability. It also prevents bone loss and allows you to speak and chew. Dental implants also look natural. It may be difficult for anyone to notice you have lost your teeth.

What Is Gum Disease?

Also known as periodontal disease or periodontitis, gum disease is a severe gum infection. It occurs due to plaque building up around and along the gumline. Gum disease can destroy the bone that supports your teeth. It is a risk factor for coronary artery disease, stroke, and heart attack. It can also impact conditions like diabetes.

Gum disease can occur in various ways, such as receding gum line, pus between teeth, or feeling like teeth are loose. You may also have gum disease if you have tender, swollen, and red gums that can bleed easily.

Can Gum Disease Cause Tooth Loss?

Gum disease can result in severe damage to your gum tissue. The unhealthy tissue destroys the bone that supports teeth. It also allows bacteria deep into it. Most adults lose their teeth due to periodontal disease. However, do not automatically think you will start losing your teeth once you get diagnosed with gum disease. Addressing the problem can help prevent tooth loss and reverse the infection.

Gum Disease Treatment

Gum disease is treatable. Your dentist at Dr. Sam's Premier Dentistry will recommend a treatment plan that suits your health and situation. You may need your gum pockets cleaned to prevent damaging your bone. Adopting good oral care is also ideal for preventing poor oral health.

Can You Get a Dental Implant If You Have Gum Disease?

Dental implants require strong and healthy gums. Gum disease dissolves and weakens your bone and tissue. As a result, you may not be a suitable candidate for a dental implant. After treatment, you may still not have a strong enough jawbone or tissue to make you eligible for implants.

Dental implant procedures require an expansive and thick jawbone that can support the implant safely. Your implant and its final restoration also need tissue that sufficiently surrounds them. If this is your case, you may be a candidate for soft tissue or bone graft. You can get a dental implant after the grafting.

Can You Get Gum Disease After a Dental Implant?

Your risk for gum disease does not lower once you get a dental implant. You can get a form of gum disease called peri-implantitis if you do not take care of your oral health. Peri-implantitis develops when the bone and gum tissue around your implant get affected by bacteria buildup. You are likely to experience the following symptoms:

• Bad breath
  
  

• Bleeding
  
  

• Loosening dental implant

If left untreated, peri-implantitis can worsen and cause your dental implant to fall out.

You can prevent gum disease from occurring by brushing your teeth twice every day and flossing at least once a day. It is also ideal that you visit your dentist regularly, at least twice a year. They can help you with measures to stop the bacteria from building up. Eating a healthy diet plays a significant role in your oral health. Smoking is also a risk factor for peri-implantitis.

For more about dental implants, visit Dr. Sam's Premier Dentistry at our office in Sherman, Texas. Call 903-708-6400 to book an appointment today