Often, dental implants are an ideal way to replace missing teeth, but they do require surgery and may not be the best tooth replacement option for you. Here, our Vancouver dentists explain who makes a good candidate for dental implants.
Dental Implants
At South Granville Dentistry, our dentists offer dental implants to replace missing teeth and give patients a natural looking smile. Dental implants are a permanent solution to missing teeth, with a number of benefits. That said, implants are surgically placed in the jaw and that can mean that they are not the best tooth replacement solution for everyone.
Who is a good candidate for dental implants?
To be a good candidate for dental implants you must have healthy gums and a strong, healthy jaw bone. If you suffer from oral health problems such as gingivitis, or have experienced bone deterioration due to a tooth abscess, dental implants may not be right for you.
Why is my dentist recommending a bone graft?
For patients wishing to have dental implants but who have suffered significant bone loss, a bone graft may be performed to strengthen the jaw. While bone grafts may make the jawbone strong enough to support implants, the process takes a number of weeks to heal and the dental implants cannot be placed until the jaw is completely healed.
What is the bone grafting process?
When performing a bone graft, the surgeon takes a section of bone from a different part of your body, (or uses a special bone grafting material), and grafts it onto your existing jawbone in the area where the dental implant will go. Bone grafting helps to strengthen the jaw and form a stable base to hold the dental implants.
Other Tooth Replacement Options
If you have experienced significant bone loss or deterioration and want to replace your missing teeth without undergoing a bone graft, other tooth replacement options such as a dental bridge or dentures may be more suitable for you.
Replacing your missing teeth is important for keeping your whole mouth healthy. Speak to your dentist if you are interested in learning more about tooth replacement options. Your dentist will be able to recommend the most appropriate tooth replacement option for your smile.