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Dental implants last 30+ years, look and feel completely natural, and require minimal care and maintenance, so they are a very popular way to restore missing teeth. But can anyone get implants at Nova Dental? Are there any special requirements? Find out now, and see if you’re a good candidate by scheduling a consultation with Dr. Talar Guldalian.
First and foremost, you should have a relatively healthy mouth, and be free of any serious oral health problems like gum disease and tooth decay (cavities).
Gum disease can impair the healing process after your implant has been surgically placed. To get a dental implant, you must either not have gum disease, or your gum disease must be under control with regular periodontal cleanings and maintenance at Nova Dental.
Cavities will not directly affect the implant process, but it’s still a good idea to get treatment with fillings or crowns before your implant is placed to minimize the risk of complications elsewhere in your mouth while your implants heal.
After you lose a tooth, the underlying jaw bone can lose up to 40% of its mass in just one year. This is because your teeth stimulate the jaw bone when you chew and bite. When the force of biting and chewing is no longer transmitted into the jaw, the bone begins to weaken.
However, your jaw bone must be strong to get a dental implant, since the implant needs to bond with healthy jaw tissue and permanently fuse with the bone to lock it into place. This is why it’s a good idea to get an implant as soon as you can after losing a tooth.
Even if you’ve been missing a tooth for several years, though, it may be possible to get an implant. You will need a “bone graft,” which involves placing bone powder in the implant site before treatment. Over time, new bone grows over the grafted material, strengthening the area sufficiently for an implant.
Many dentists will refuse to place a dental implant if you smoke or use other types of smokeless tobacco products including chewing tobacco and snus. This is because tobacco can negatively affect the healing process, impairing the bonding of the implant with your gums and jaw.
Tobacco use is also a major risk factor for gum disease and infections, which should be avoided at all costs when healing from a dental implant, since the infection of the gums around the dental implant (peri-implantitis) can cause it to fail.
If your mouth is healthy, your jaw is strong, and you don’t use tobacco, you’re likely a good candidate for tooth replacement with dental implants. To get an implant consultation with Dr. Guldalian, just contact us online or give us a call at (781) 369-5722 to explore your options for restoring your smile in Woburn.