Am I A Candidate For Dental Implants? Austin, TX ![]() What Are Dental Implants?Dental implants are dental prosthetics that are used to replace a complete missing tooth. They have three parts that work together to simulate a real tooth. There is the implant post which is a base. This post is a tiny screw that is placed in the jawbone surgically. It is made with titanium, a material that bonds easily with the jawbone. The other parts of a dental implant is the abutment and crown. The abutment is a connector that holds the crown securely to the implant post. Once all three are connected, the dental implant works as a real tooth, allowing you to eat and speak as you normally would. The following factors determine your candidacy for dental implants. Sufficient Jawbone DensityThe base post is the most important part of an implant, and it is held securely by the jawbone. Since this requires a surgical process, candidates for dental implants must have adequate jawbone density. This is vital as the jawbone needs to bond and fuse to the titanium post successfully through a healing period. When a patient has lost too much bone density, we may recommend a bone graft procedure to help rebuild the jawbone, or just consider another replacement option entirely. Good General HealthA dental implant procedure requires anesthesia. Therefore, patients should be certain of their general health. Our professionals will always go through your medical records and run some tests to ascertain this in your first few appointments. Moreover, patients who already have some illness or medication that will disrupt the healing process may have to wait until they are done to receive dental implants. Healthy GumsPatients who require dental implants should have healthy gums. If you are suffering from gum disease or have symptoms that show such, you may have to treat them first before considering dental implants. Carrying out dental implants on unhealthy gums can harm the success of the implant placement while increasing the chances of jawbone infection. Good Oral HygieneThe success of dental implants depends on the oral hygiene of the patient. Patients should already practice good oral hygiene and should be able to keep it up following the procedure. Dental implants do not require much work, as all they require is consistent brushing and flossing, accompanied by regular dental exams. Also, patients who smoke increase the risk of dental implant failure, as smoking greatly slows the healing process. Patients who do not meet most of these criteria but want dental implants have easy solutions such as a bone graft, sinus lift, or periodontal treatment. The bone graft and sinus lift are different variations of restoring bone density, while periodontal treatment is meant to eliminate gum disease. With these, you can easily boost your chances of getting dental implants. Please speak to our professionals at South Austin Dental today, by calling us at (512) 441-8922 to discuss your candidacy. |
Phone(512) 441-8922 HoursMon: 8:00am - 4:00pm Tues:8:00am - 4:30pm Weds: 8:00am - 4:30pm Thurs: 8:00am - 2:00pm Fri: Closed |