Who Needs Dental Implants Treatment?

dental implants Lafayette, CA

The decision to get dental implants is no small step. Taking the first step to pursue dental implants is a major decision that, if needed, will dramatically step up your quality of life. But who do you know if dental implants are right for you? Take a look at what makes a person a strong candidate for dental implants, as well as treatment options for those who aren’t.

Characteristics of a Strong Candidate for Dental Implants

Though counterintuitive, a strong candidate for dental implants is someone who has lost at least a few permanent teeth.

Severe tooth loss can eventually make a person a poor candidate for dental implants, after that tooth loss leads to bone loss in the jawbone. When natural teeth are rooted in the jawbone, they keep the jawbone stimulated. But when those teeth fall out, eventually that area of the jaw will begin to deteriorate due to a lack of stimulation.

Along with the loss of permanent teeth and the presence of a solid jawbone, another major characteristic of a person who’s a strong candidate for dental implants is determination.

The process of planning dental implants, having them placed and allowing them to heal can take the best part of a year in the best of cases. So a strong candidate for dental implants will have a strong desire to again have a mouth full of healthy teeth.

Characteristics of a Bad Candidate for Dental Implants

Because the jawbone is needed to support dental implants, just as it’s needed to support natural teeth, a person with severe bone loss in the jaw area will be a weaker candidate for dental implants.

However, there are solutions for those with severe bone loss. Procedures such as a bone graft can help regenerate bone in the area where dental implants will go. After a few months of healing and fusing, you’ll again have the density and bone mass needed to reliably support dental implants.