Who Is a Candidate? Many patients want to get dental implants but are told they are not a good candidate. They do not realize that there are certain requirements necessary to make them a prime candidate for the dental implant solution. While this list is not extensive, patients need to have good oral health and be in good general health. It is also important to have enough bone mass to allow for implants to be embedded into the jawbones. Without a supportive structure, dental implants cannot be secured in place.Used to keep bridges, dentures, and even crowns in place, dental implants are an excellent choice. Come see us today at Mission Hills Periodontics to see if you meet the criteria and are deemed a good candidate for this procedure. Am I a Candidate?Many times, patients are unaware of the risk factors which can be indicative that they are not a prime candidate for dental implants. Unfortunately, those over sixty years old or have had any type of cancer treatment involving radiation or chemotherapy are typically not good candidates. Radiation treatment can deteriorate bone structure throughout the body but in particular in the jawbone. Also, over time, as we age, we all lose bone mass and the jawbone is not immune. Some medications patients take as part of their prescription treatment can lower estrogen levels. This is the same for those patients who are post-menopausal. Anyone who has an advanced periodontal disease which can rapidly deteriorate both supportive gum tissue and the jawbone is not a good candidate either. Those patients who abuse alcohol or use tobacco products like cigars, cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, or even e-cigarettes will not be considered good candidates. The last factor is diabetes. While these factors will not preclude all patients from getting dental implants, it might mean there are additional complications to the procedure. One additional concern is the high cost of a complete set of dentures. This procedure can get expensive in many cases which is out of reach for many of our patients. What Alternatives Are There?If either the risk factors or the exorbitant cost makes patients shy away from dental implants, there are other options. One such option is mini-implants which are just what they sound like; small versions of standard implants. They require far less bone mass and are less expensive. The All-on-4 implant procedure is another option that requires less bone mass than standard implants. Noninvasive OptionsIf neither of those alternatives to traditional dental implants will work for a patient's unique situation, there are other noninvasive alternatives that do not require an implant of any kind. These are tooth-supported dental bridges. This uses the patient's existing teeth instead of implants to anchor a dental bridge. One drawback to this option is due to the fact it utilizes the natural teeth of a patient, and it can cause those teeth to wear more quickly than usual. This can lead to tooth decay and cause additional problems. Weighing your options can take some time. When you're ready we'll be here at Mission Hills Periodontics to be your sounding board. Call us at (619) 356-5989 to schedule an appointment or to discuss your options. |
