Am I A Candidate for Dental Implants?

Deciding to pursue dental implants is one decision, but another important one comes about during the consultation: deciding if you are you physically ready for dental implants. Dr. Herman and our team perform these evaluations and consultations to ensure that your dental implant won’t fail after being placed. If you’ve been deemed unfit for implants right now, don’t worry! All it takes are some extra steps to better prepare you for implants.

What Happens During A Consultation?

When you come in for your consultation, there are three things that will occur: an oral health evaluation, a one-on-one discussion and an ultimate decision.

• The Oral Health Evaluation: This typically involves performing a visual examination of your smile, looking for signs of decay or disease. At this time we will also take scans of your jaw, to get a deeper look at jawbone density and tissue health. Our front office staff may also ask you to fill out a questionnaire on your medical or dental history.
• The Discussion: Armed with these scans and evaluation notes, Dr. Eric Herman will sit down with you to discuss what you want to accomplish with your smile. Whether you need one implant or an entire implant-supported denture, we want to make sure that the end result is what you desire. At this time you can also ask Dr. Eric Herman any questions that you have about implants.
• The Decision: After the discussion is completed, we’ll give you some time to make a decision. You don’t need to commit to a dental implant treatment right then and there, but we recommend that you come to a decision before your tooth loss worsens.

What Makes A Good Implant Candidate

The following are a list of common traits that make up an ideal candidate for dental implants.

• Missing One Or More Teeth: It’s not advised to pull out perfectly healthy teeth to replace them with implants. Instead, we want to help treats patients who have already lost teeth, or might be at risk for losing teeth due to disease or old age.
• Sufficient Jawbone Or Soft Tissues: Like a building that needs a good foundation, a dental implant also needs a good foundation to be placed on. That foundation is jawbone, with soft tissues to both mask and support the implant.
• Generally Good Oral Health: If you have rampant tooth decay or gum disease, this could make your implant healing process difficult. Patients should have a clean oral health, to achieve the best possible outcome for their dental implants.
• An Understanding Of The Process: Dental implants are not necessarily an instant process. Osseointegration takes time to be fully completed, otherwise your implant could loosen.

What Would Prevent Me From Getting Implants?

Keep in mind that if you fall under one of these categories, this doesn’t mean you can’t have implants. Instead, you may need some time or additional preparatory work before you can be deemed ready.

• Age: Dental implants are not recommended for children who have not fully developed. This is more for their safety, as placing an implant can potentially damage their facial growth. If your child has lost a permanent “adult” tooth, consult with Dr. Eric Herman about alternative treatments.
• Pregnancy: Dental implants may not be recommended for women who are currently pregnant, due to the use of anesthetics and invasive surgery.
• Medical Conditions: Patients who have certain medical conditions such as hemophilia, diabetes or autoimmune disorders should consult with their doctors to ensure that they are healthy enough for invasive surgery.
• Bruxism (Teeth Grinding): If you grind your teeth at night, you can see how flat your teeth have become. So imagine what your teeth grinding could do to your dental implant! Before pursuing implants, invest in a nightguard to protect your teeth while you sleep.
• Heavy Smoking or Alcoholism: Both tobacco and alcohol contain properties that dry out your mouth and expose your teeth to harsh chemicals, both of which can be detrimental to a newly-healing dental implant.
• Immunosuppressants or Steroids: The healing process is vital to implant success, but patients taking immunosuppressants or steroids could be putting themselves at risk during post-surgery. Talk to your doctor before proceeding.

Supplemental Procedures

There are several treatments available that can help prepare a patient’s teeth, gums, and jawbone for dental implant placement. These supplemental procedures, such as gum disease treatment and bone grafting, are often performed in order to make you a better candidate for implants. By preparing you for dental implants, they can ultimately help ensure a more successful outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can children get implants?

Unfortunately, no. This is because children’s jawbones are still in a state of growth, and placing implants in a jaw that’s not done growing can lead to misalignment over time. Until the patient’s jawbone has finished growing, they won’t be able to receive dental implants.

If I have gum disease, can I still get implants?

If you have gum disease, we’ll need to eliminate the infection before we can move forward with your implant treatment. Gum disease interferes with your jawbone’s ability to heal around the titanium implant fixture, causing the procedure to fail.

How To Find Out If You’re An Implant Candidate In Vincennes

The best way to uncover if you’re ready for implants is to consult with Dr. Eric Herman. Schedule a consultation at Herman Family Dentistry and find out more about what dental implants can do and how they can help your smile. Don’t wait another year to restore your tooth loss.