Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants
May 13th, 2010 by wordpress
At some point during your lifetime you may lose a tooth or a few teeth for one reason or another. Tooth loss often occurs for many reasons, including
- Tooth decay
- Gum disease or periodontitis
- Extreme wear and tear
- Unsuccessful root canal
- Congenital defects
- Trauma to the mouth
There is nothing more disturbing than losing a front tooth or several teeth that affect the way you smile, look and talk. It is also uncomfortable to bite and chew with missing teeth and this often affects your eating habits.
However, there are many restorative procedures available for the treatment of missing teeth. One such procedure with a proven track record is dental implants, which are made to feel, look and function like your own teeth. It is an effective and durable method of artificially replacing missing teeth.
While dental implants are a great way to replace missing teeth, not everyone is a good candidate for this procedure. When considering who is a good candidate for dental implants, here are some suggestions:
- The age of the patient since installing implants is best done when bone growth is complete or any time after adolescence.
- Medical problems or disease such as cancer, diabetes or periodontal disease may delay installing dental implants since additional treatment may be required.
- Depending on your bone density and quantity, you may not qualify for dental implants and in some cases; you may require bone grafting and other procedures.
- If you are a smoker, you will need to quit smoking before you can be considered for dental implants.
- Persons taking immune-suppressants medication may have a high failure rate for implants.
- The cost can be pricey and will depend on factors such as the type of implants, materials used, the dentist performing the procedure and the location where the implantation will take place. In addition, if the patient has insurance, does it cover dental implants? The cost may range from $1,000 to $5,000 for single implants and from $24,000 to $100,000 for full-mouth reconstruction.
With improved technology, dental implants can be done with precision and accuracy and the use of mini implants has made the procedure accessible to more people. However, it may take three to six months to secure and heal, when using the osseointegrated implants.
If you are looking for information and advanced technology used for dental implants, a good place to visit is Center for Advanced Dentistry.
