Are Dental Implants Right for You?

If you are experiencing tooth loss, you may be considering getting corrective dental procedures, such as dental implants. Before doing so, however, a dentist in Lafayette, CA will need to assess your mouth to ensure you are a candidate for your new smile. There are many factors that can influence this and are discussed below.

The ideal candidate for a dental implant is in good general and oral health. Sufficient bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant, and the best candidates have healthy gum tissues with no signs of tooth decay or periodontal disease, also known as gum disease. If you are showing visible signs of gum disease, including swollen, red, tender, and bleeding gums, you may need to visit a dental specialist that focuses on treating gum disease, known as a periodontist. This is particularly important before potentially becoming a great candidate for dental implants.

As stated, good jawbone support is one of the main characteristics of being a candidate for dental implants. A strong jaw construction supports the implant once installed. The reasoning behind this is if the implant is not reinforced by a strong bone than it can become loose from chewing.

Candidates who are dedicated to oral hygiene are excellent applicants for implants. Flossing, brushing and using a good mouthwash several times in a day assist in removing plaque which in turn are protecting the applicant against infection during the implant procedure. Visits to a dentist twice per year for that routine checkup makes for a good candidate.

 

About the Procedure

A dentist in Lafayette, CA will evaluate your oral health and assess your candidacy for dental implants. There are various types of implant options that a dentist will consider for your treatment plan. These can include:

• Replacing a Single Tooth. If you are missing a single tooth, one implant and a crown can replace it.
• Implant-supported bridges. These can replace several teeth If they are missing or damaged.
• Implant-supported full bridge or full denture. These can replace all of your teeth if they are missing or damaged.

 

Contact Us!

Schedule a consultation today to discuss your questions and get started with dental implants! We invite you to meet our experienced and friendly doctor, Dr. Andrew Ferrier, DDS, in our office in Lafayette, CA!