What is a Dental Implant and How To Know If Your Patient is a Candidate

How do you know if your patient is a good candidate for a dental implant? Here we have a few guidelines that can help you steer your patients in the right direction when it comes to making choices about their dental health. Dental implants are often the last resort after the tooth has faced challenges such as cavities, trauma, cracks or operations such as root canals.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants provide the possibility to have a strong bite, a natural-looking crown that is exact in appearance to natural teeth but require a surgical procedure to place the “root,” which is similar to the screw, into the jaw bone. The Dental Surgeon must drill a small opening into the bone in which to place the surgical steel root where the crown will be attached to. Often more than one dental implant will be needed, and in other cases, it is a way to replace a tooth that has been extracted.

The crown is attached to a connector called an abutment; this small piece is what holds the screw and the crown together. There is now more than one type of these dental implants, and we intend to shed some light on what these options are for those who are looking to improve their smile and earn better dental care. The two common materials used for dental implants are surgical steel and fiberglass.

Benefits

One of the benefits of getting a dental implant aside from the secure bite, which is not achieved through other measures such as dentures, is that the crown is custom made. The color of the crown will be made to match perfectly and blend into the natural shade of the teeth beside it. The shape of the tooth is carefully constructed to aid in biting and to be aesthetically pleasing.

Safety

Surgical professionals do this type of surgery very frequently; it is safe and widely practiced. For the last 30 years, dental implant surgery has provided a better dental function and dental health to millions of individuals.

Who is a good candidate for surgical implants?

A right candidate for dental implants must have good bone density. People with bone deficiency challenges will not benefit from this type of surgery. In these cases, subperiosteal implants are a much better option because they are placed on top of the jaw. Other options are available and are offered by dental professionals based on what is right for the patient.

Another factor which makes a patient a suitable candidate is having healthy gums. Gingivitis and other more severe gum diseases should be treated and corrected before dental implants are even suggested. Only once the gums are healthy may we consider dental implants.

Lastly, as all dental professionals will tell you, good dental hygiene is the key to success for any intervention to be taken to the max. Brushing and flossing after meals, using mouthwash, and avoiding sugary carbonated drinks can profoundly impact dental health and avoid inconvenient dental complications.

Conclusion

Dental Implants look, feel, and function as natural teeth would, which is why so many people choose to have them done and are always satisfied with the outcome. To be a good candidate for dental implants the patient must have proper bone density, healthy gums, and good dental health. Keeping teeth and gums healthy by practicing good dental hygiene is the best way to ensure a good outcome to any dental procedure and to avoid deteriorating the pearly whites that will accompany us for a lifetime.