Who Is an Ideal Candidate for Titanium Dental Implants?

Unlike conventional dentures that have to be removed, cleaned and re-affixed to the gums on a daily basis, titanium dental implants feel, look and act like real teeth. Implanted into the jawbone, these artificial teeth are indistinguishable from natural teeth. What’s more, they are cared for like real teeth.

If you have lost teeth due to injury or disease, you owe it to yourself to look into this permanent solution. Dr. Hauser, a dental implant specialist at Lakefront Family Dentistry, would love to talk to you about your options. Call (951) 244-9495  or go online to make an appointment today.

Dental Implant Qualifications

Before scheduling a consultation, most people want to know if they are a good candidate for the procedure. Unfortunately, there’s no clear-cut answer. Each individual case is different and a good dental implant specialist won’t know with absolute certainty if their patient qualifies for implants until they fully examine them.

However, qualifying candidates all have a few things in common:

• They have good oral health.
• They have healthy gums without the presence of periodontitis.
• They have enough jaw bone to support the implants. In some cases, the jawbone can be augmented to support titanium dental implants.

Contrary to popular belief, dental implants aren’t just for replacing a missing tooth here or there. They can be used to replace individual teeth, a row of missing teeth, or a full set of teeth. Implants are popular with those who wear full denture plates because they are more comfortable and prevent the plates from moving around.

While individual implants are always fixed, some partials and full denture implants are removable, but not all of them. For patients who prefer to remove their teeth for cleaning, specialists place titanium implants or screws into their jawbone and place a removable plate on top. The screws stay in place, but the plates are removed at will.

Not Good Candidates for Dental Implants

There are some people who won’t qualify for dental implants due to medical reasons. However, a specialist might choose to do the procedure regardless of the presence of certain medical conditions, provided they feel it is safe and there will be minimal complications.

Medical conditions that may interfere with successful implantation include:

• Pregnancy
• Diabetes (uncontrolled)
• Hemophilia
• Immune deficiency
• Connective tissue disease

Additionally, heavy smokers or those with poor oral hygiene may not qualify. Since smoking and tobacco use hinders healing, heavy smokers who get implants may not heal properly. Similarly, poor oral hygiene can undermine the success of titanium dental implants and may even lead to infection.

As always, it is up to the discretion of the specialist whether or not to go forward with the procedure after the initial consultation.

If you have missing teeth, take back your smile with permanent dental implants. If you’re not sure if you will qualify, schedule a consultation with Dr. Hauser at Lakefront Family Dentistry today. As a dental implant specialist, Dr. Hauser can answer all your questions and determine if titanium implants are the right choice for you.  Call (951) 244-9495 or Request an Appointment Online Today!