Not Everyone Should Turn To Dental Implants

While dental implants provide a recognized solution for edentulous patients or people with a few missing teeth, they are not for everyone. The following information reveals why implants may fail or not succeed for some people.

When Implants Are Not Recommended

Several factors can affect the success of implant surgery. Therefore, these factors play a part in whether or not a patient is a good implant candidate. For example, anyone with active gum disease needs to have the condition treated first before they get implants. That also means you have to take care of your implants like regular teeth. Otherwise, you can end up getting peri-implantitis, which eventually leads to implant failure. Peri-implantitis is an inflammation that affects the hard and soft tissues around dental implants. The soft tissues become inflamed while the alveolar bone, or hard tissue, diminishes over time. Patients who smoke are also not good candidates for implants. Smoking restricts oxygen absorption and blood flow. Moreover, multiple research studies reveal that smokers experience dental implant failures about 20% more often than non-smokers overall.

Do You Have Enough Bone?

A successful implant procedure also requires that you have sufficient bone in the jaw to support your new implant. Without enough bone, it is surgically impossible to place an implant. Many times, bone loss results from gum disease or osteoporosis. The situation may be rectified by using grafts to build up the bone that holds the implant. Besides having insufficient bone to place an implant, a medical condition, such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, may prevent a patient from receiving an implant. These autoimmune conditions lead to slower healing times and prevent osseointegration, or the integration of the implant with the bone. Also, in one 2016 study, McGill University scientists discovered that some heartburn medicines can reduce the growth of new bone, which can affect how implants fuse with and anchor in the bone. Researchers conducting studies at the University of Buffalo showed similar outcomes from people taking antidepressant medicines.

We can help you set a standard of good oral hygiene, as long as you are willing to cooperate. If you are not the right candidate for implants, we can help you make the needed adjustments. Give us a call today to explore your options.