Who Is a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Fountain Valley, CA
 Have you heard about how great implants are? If you haven’t heard about dental implants, we’ll be the first to tell you they are truly amazing. We use implants to help our patients regain the look they may have lost when they either lost their teeth all at once, or whether they lost their teeth one at a time. Implants are not just used for cosmetic purposes; we use them to help you keep your jawbone healthy and strong. While we are huge fans of dental implants, we are the first ones to admit that not everyone makes a good candidate for implants. How can we tell whether or not you are a good candidate for an implant procedure? Let Bijan Family Dental Practice give you facts on dental implants, and how we decide whether or not you would be a good candidate.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a revolutionary way for us to place artificial teeth in your mouth permanently as opposed to dentures that you have to remove each night. All implants contain a screw that takes the place of a tooth root. The screw is implanted and screwed into your jawbone, with a prosthetic tooth on top. The implant screw works like the tooth root does, and attaches your jawbone to the prosthetic tooth through the gums. We use implants to replace one tooth, several teeth, or your entire upper and lower set of teeth. With implants, it doesn’t matter if you lose a tooth due to disease, tooth decay, accidents or injuries; they work the same way for everyone.
What Kinds of Dental Implants Are There?
Our practice uses two kinds of dental implants. The most common kind of implant we use is called endosteal implants. For endosteal implants, a screw or a cylinder is screwed through the gumline and into your jawbone. We then place a prosthetic tooth or teeth on top of the screws. Endosteal implants can be used for a complete set of implants as well as an implant bridge. We can also use a different kind of implant, called a subperiosteal implant. These implants are placed on top of the jawline, rather than screwed into the bone. The posts do go into the gumline, but not as far down as endosteal implants. We can use these implants for patients that are missing bone in their jaw that might be needed to hold a traditional implant.
How Do I Know If I Am a Good Candidate?
We use several factors to decide whether patients are a good candidate for an dental implant procedure. Your general health needs to be good, because those in poor general health are at a higher risk for complications. Your oral health also needs to be good, because if you have gum disease, we will need to treat it first, before we can put implants in your gums. We may also need to check your jawbone to see if it can support implants. If your jawbone is not strong enough, we can put bone grafts in so that your jaw can be prepared for implants. Do you think that you might be a good candidate for implants? Do you need advice? Do you know if dental implants are safe for you?
Let us answer your questions. Give Bijan Family Dental Practice a call at (714) 421-4494.
FAQs
How do I know if I am a candidate for dental implants?
You may be a candidate for dental implants if you are missing one or more teeth, have healthy gums, and enough jawbone to support an implant. A comprehensive evaluation at Bijan Family Dental Practice allows our dental team to determine whether dental implants are the right solution for your needs.
Can I get dental implants if I have bone loss?
Even if you have experienced bone loss, you may still be a candidate for dental implants. Advanced techniques and treatment options may help prepare the jaw for implant placement. Our dentists will assess your bone health and discuss appropriate options during your consultation.
Does age affect eligibility for dental implants?
Age alone does not disqualify someone from receiving dental implants. As long as you are in good overall health and have fully developed jawbone structure, dental implants can be a viable tooth replacement option for adults of many ages.
What health conditions may affect dental implant candidacy?
Certain medical conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes or gum disease, may impact healing and implant success. Our dental team at Bijan Family Dental Practice carefully reviews your medical history to ensure dental implants can be placed safely and effectively.
What is the first step to finding out if dental implants are right for me?
The first step is scheduling a consultation, where our dentists perform an oral exam and review imaging to evaluate your teeth, gums, and jawbone. This personalized assessment helps determine whether dental implants are the best option to restore your smile and oral function.
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