Things That Can Impact Your Candidacy For A Traditional Dental Implant Restoration
Posted on: 10 April 2017
There are multiple things that can impact your candidacy for a traditional dental implant restoration. Here are a few of them:
The Amount of Jawbone That You Have Available
The jawbone supports your dental implant. As a result, the bone's density must be sufficient for the placement of the device. When a traditional dental implant is installed, it is drilled into the jawbone where it eventually assimilates with the bone cells for stability. If there is too little bone material for a traditional implant to be placed, your dentist may offer you several alternatives, such as a bone graft, a miniature dental implant or zygomatic dental implant.
A bone graft requires several months to heal properly and produce enough bone growth to increase the bone's density sufficiently for the implant procedure. The graft can come from an animal donor, another site in your body or a human cadaver.
If a miniature dental implant is used, it requires less bone to support it due to the reduced size of the implanted device. Zygomatic dental implants are installed in the cheekbone instead of that the jaw.
The State of Your Gums
If you have a minor case of gingivitis, it will not likely affect your dental implant restoration. However, if you have a severe case of periodontal disease, the condition may have affected the jawbone and could impair proper healing at the implant site. Before a dental implant is placed, your gums should be in good condition.
Chewing or Smoking Tobacco
Smoking or chewing tobacco can make an implant wound difficult to heal. Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen received by the wound and impairs proper circulation. Chewing tobacco can irritate the soft tissues of the mouth causing inflammation and slowing healing time. As a result, it is best to stop any tobacco usage months before your implant's placement.
Participation in Contact Sports
Some contacts sports, such as boxing and hockey, could negatively affect your dental implant. A blow to the mouth can shift an implant from its original position. This shifting causes the implant to fail. Once the implant has integrated with the jawbone, it must not move from its position. The connectivity to the jawbone cannot be restored.
To learn more about dental implants and to determine whether or not you are a great candidate for an implant restoration, schedule an appointment with an implant dentist in your area. To learn more, contact a dentist like Aaron G Birch, DDS PC.
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