What Makes a Good Implant Candidate?

Tooth loss can negatively impact your oral capabilities and the appearance of your smile. Missing teeth can also cause your oral health to further deteriorate, even after treating the underlying cause of the tooth loss.

Permanent tooth replacement treatment with dental implants can restore oral function and preserve your smile. However, not every dental patient is well-suited for this restorative dental solution. Perfect Smiles of Doylestown, a dental practice located in Doylestown, PA, describes three qualities held by ideal dental implant patients.

dental implant patient Doylestown Pennsylvania

Characteristics in an Ideal Dental Implant Patient

Seeking Permanent Smile Restoration

Dental implants feature a titanium post anchor that a dental professional surgically places into the jaw. This supports a prosthetic tooth, bridge, or denture attached to an abutment above the gumline.

The result is a permanent tooth replacement feature, which appeals to many individuals who have suffered tooth loss. These patients do not have to worry about replacing their fixtures or the implants slipping out of place at inopportune moments.

However, some people may find the lifelong placement of devices in their smiles disagreeable. They might prefer a removable tooth replacement treatment option, such as dentures, that requires less commitment.

Stable Jawbone Structure

A side effect of missing teeth is the weakening of the jawbone. Without a tooth root stimulating the jaw, the bone may degenerate. Dental implants can cease this deterioration as well as encourage the regrowth of any bone that may have already been lost.

However, in order to successfully receive an implant, the jawbone must retain enough stability in its structure to support the titanium post anchor of the fixture. If too much bone has deteriorated, the implant could fail.

Your dentist may recommend a bone graft to create more stability in the jaw that could sustain an implant once healed. They can evaluate the strength of your jaw through x-ray imaging taken during a consultation appointment.

Patience with the Implant Process

The implant dentistry process can be lengthy and expensive, depending on your unique circumstances. It can take several months to recover from the anchor implant surgery before the dentist can secure a permanent prosthetic into place.

Patients who seek tooth replacement with dental implants must exhibit patience when it comes to this treatment, trusting that the end result will provide a lifetime of restorative benefits for their smiles. This solution will enhance the appearance of your smile, preserve your facial and dental structure, and restore your oral functions comfortably. By keeping these goals in mind, dental patients can maintain confidence during this restorative treatment.

Dental Implants and More Restorative Dentistry in Doylestown, PA

Perfect Smiles of Doylestown offers dental implants and other tooth replacement solutions to qualified patients in Doylestown, PA. Our practice specializes in restorative, cosmetic, and general dentistry, including both preventative and emergency dental services, for patients of all ages. To schedule an appointment with us, contact our staff online or reach us by phone at 215.529.8048.