Who Is a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Not everyone with a missing tooth is automatically a candidate for an implant. Our dentists look at several things before recommending treatment:
- Your overall health
- Your oral health, particularly your gum health
- Whether you have enough healthy jawbone to support the implant post
- Medical conditions like diabetes that could affect healing
- Whether you smoke or use tobacco, which also affects healing
- The condition of your surrounding teeth and bite
- Your ability to keep up with daily cleaning and regular checkups
Bone loss is common after losing a tooth but doesn’t automatically mean you can’t get an implant. Some patients get bone grafting, then get an implant at a later date. Your dentist will let you know what's realistic for you.
What Happens During the Dental Implant Process?
Getting a dental implant is a process that takes place over several months. You can expect the following steps:
- Evaluating bone and oral health with advanced imaging technology
- Tooth extraction if needed
- Numbing the treatment area thoroughly
- Placing the dental implant surgically in your jawbone
- Allowing several months for healing as the implant bonds with the bone around it
- Placement of your final crown or restoration
