Am I a candidate for dental implants?
It comes down to the bone in your jaw, the health of your gums and your general health, and only an exam can tell you.
Who is a good candidate
Many adults who are missing a tooth, several teeth or all of them can be considered for an implant after an exam. A good candidate has enough healthy bone to hold the post, healthy gums, and general health that allows surgery to heal well.
There is no single cut-off age. The American Dental Association says your health is more of a factor than your age, and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons makes an exception for growing children.
What the exam checks
Questions the dentist answers
Is there enough bone where the post would go?
The post needs bone of enough height and width to hold it. X-rays show how much there is.
Are the gums healthy?
Your dentist checks the gums and, if there is gum disease, treats it before placing an implant.
Is general health stable?
Your dentist will ask about your health history and medications.
Do you smoke or use tobacco?
The American Dental Association says using tobacco can slow healing.
Can you keep it clean?
An implant needs the same daily brushing and cleaning as a natural tooth, plus regular check-ups.
What can rule you out, or put it off
The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons says implant failure can be caused by a number of factors, including low bone density, uncontrolled diabetes and smoking. It names peri-implantitis, a chronic infection of the gum and eventually the bone, as the most common cause of long-term implant failure. If one of these applies to you, the dentist may deal with it first or suggest another option.
Some medications and some medical treatments can also affect how bone heals. Tell the dentist about all of them, including ones that seem unrelated to your teeth.
If you are not a candidate yet
A “not yet” comes with a reason. Gum disease can be treated and the mouth reassessed. Some people need bone added first; the exam shows whether you do.
If an implant is not the right choice, a bridge or a denture can replace missing teeth, and a denture can also be anchored to implants.
Next step
An exam with x-rays is how you find out. Call the office to schedule one, or read the pros and cons of dental implants first.