Who is a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Escanaba, MI
 Tooth loss in itself is traumatic and dealing with missing teeth while trying to interact in the course of our daily lives can be nerve-wracking and embarrassing. Even if the tooth loss is caused by trauma, most people immediately form a judgment that it was caused by improper oral hygiene practices. Whether the loss was caused by a lack of brushing or flossing, advanced gum disease, or a blow to the face or mouth, dental implants can be a perfect solution for some patients. Not every patient will be a good candidate for the procedure as there are some general requirements to be followed. Specific risk factors can increase a patient’s likelihood to be precluded from the procedure too.
Generally speaking, patients should be in reasonably good health both from a medical standpoint as well as a dental one. Used in support of crowns, dentures, and other appliances, implants are a significant tool in restorative dentistry. Please call us if you have questions regarding this procedure at Bay Lakes Center for Complex Dentistry today.
Who is not Recommended for Dental Implants?
Those patients over the age of 60 are in a higher risk group because they typically have less bone mass available for the implant to use. Anyone who has received cancer treatments involving radiation is also at risk of having less bone mass than someone who has not.
Surprisingly, some medications can alter bone growth and diminish mass and bone density. Also, women who may be post-menopausal are not good candidates for the procedure due to the potential for bone mass loss. For the same reason, those who abuse alcohol or who use tobacco products are not considered good candidates either.
While the factors increase the chances for a more complicated procedure, they don’t preclude the patient from having the implants placed. It simply means those factors must be taken into consideration while discussing dental implants as an option.
Dental Implant Alternatives
There are a few alternatives to what is called traditional type implants. One option which can be used is mini-implants which are much smaller than the traditional implants. Requiring less bone mass than the regular implants, they provide an option to those candidates with limited bone mass. The other alternative is called The All-on-4® Treatment Concept which angles the implants, so they do not need the same amount of bone mass that traditional implants do.
Noninvasive Option
One more option available is a noninvasive option which does not drill into the jawbone at all. It uses existing teeth which are healthy to provide support to the dental appliances used. This option is generally not recommended due to the greatly increased stress it puts the teeth under which are supporting the appliance.
When patients are ready to come in and discuss the available options and determine if they are a good candidate for dental implants, they should come and see us at Bay Lakes Center for Complex Dentistry. We are also available by phone to answer questions, including whether dental implants are affordable, or schedule appointments at (906) 212-4725.
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GREEN BAY (920) 278-7678
