Choosing to obtain dental implants can be a big life decision, particularly if you are missing all of your natural teeth. Your dentist can answer any questions or refer you to a specialist. But first, go through the checklist to understand your personal circumstances and what you need to know.
Oral Health
One initial question is to ask yourself whether or not you have good oral health. If missing teeth resulted from poor oral health, then simply replacing them is not enough. You will need to address any natural teeth that have decay first and then look to a dental implant once overall oral health is restored.
General Health
The ideal candidate for dental implants is in good general health and without tooth decay and oral conditions. It does not mean you can’t have dental implants if you don’t fit this profile. What it means, however, is that you may need additional attention given to your general health prior to surgery, helping ensure a positive outcome.
Aftercare may require more monitoring to ensure success. Your dentist can answer any questions about how your current health may affect surgical outcomes if you choose to receive dental implants.
Bone Support
If you have experienced missing teeth for many years, it is very likely that you have suffered from bone loss as a result. Surgery may be more complicated because grafting may be necessary to provide sufficient bone to anchor the implant. Special implants designed for low bone quality may also be appropriate in your case.
Current Lifestyle
Do you smoke or take medications that may affect oral health? The success of your implant surgery can be influenced by these factors. Diseases such as diabetes can delay healing and your dentist must be informed of all these kinds of potential issues.
Assessing Personal Need
Most people will likely find that when assessing personal need, dental implants are a preferred option. Some, however, may have a particularly immediate need if their health is already suffering.
Are you avoiding certain foods because you can’t chew them properly? Are you suffering from social embarrassment because you are worried your dentures will fall out when you speak or smile? These are important questions that may show a very high personal need for dental implant surgery.
Financing
Financing is almost always a major question for people who wish to get dental implants to replace missing teeth. Costs are high but most people find that they are well worth it for their newly discovered confidence and ability to comfortably eat and function.
A number of dentists today offer special financing plans to help you access dental implants. Some health insurance plans will contribute to a portion of the cost. In other cases, people find that when they discuss the benefits of implant surgery with family members, they are able to work together to finance the treatment.
Where to Start
Your first place to start is through your dentist, who may already be experienced at performing dental implants or can refer you to someone who can help. Any previous oral health problems can be communicated to the referral dentist or your current dentist can advise you on your suitability.
A Healthy, Attractive Smile
With advances today in dental implant surgery, there are still options for people who don’t have the profile to satisfy a more simple surgery. Some dental implants are designed to work in patients who have minimal bone. Other surgeries will involve grafting to replace deficient tissue. For most people, dental implants will be a preferred option to give them full functioning and aesthetics.
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