It is understood that in order to be suitable for dental implants, you need to have good general and oral healthy, but what are some other factors that may affect the suitability for dental implants? Is age a major consideration for dental implants and will anyone be too old for dental implants? Age is no barrier, unless you are referring to younger patients whose jaws are not fully developed yet. In fact, from records, dental implant treatments are popular amongst older patients as a solution for their missing tooth.
What Are Some Factors That Affects Suitability For Dental Implants?The dental professional is required to perform a comprehensive oral health assessment to find out if your mouth is strong and capable of supporting an implant. As this is an extensive procedure, there may be several reasons that you may not be suitable for dental implants. Some of the reasons may include:
- Insufficient bone: Some individuals have a small jaw and a bone grafting procedure might be recommended. As bone grafting procedure involves surgery which carries a certain percentage of risks and can be affected by some other health conditions. However, if you are replacement all of your teeth, your dentist may offer similar options that do not require bone grafting
- Smoking: Tobacco is known to reduce blood flow and it can also increase the risk of complications and implant rejection, especially if you have been smoking for a long-time. It is recommended that you quit smoking, or at least two weeks prior to the procedure and two months after to allow the implant to fuse with the jaw and to speed up the recovery period.
- Health conditions: Certain health conditions may prevent you from undergoing dental implant surgery, some examples include diabetes and osteoporosis. Do discuss your existing health conditions with your dentist so that they can advise you appropriately to prevent failed implants and not put your body and health condition under unnecessary stress.
- Poor oral hygiene: Your gums need to be healthy before the implant treatment as gum diseases can increase the risks of failed implants. It is found that older patients are more susceptible to certain oral issues compared to younger patients, therefore, your dental professional has to do a comprehensive oral check prior and advise on the hygiene treatments or any necessary diet plans.
For any reasons that dental implant might not be the best solution for your oral needs, your dental professional will sit down to discuss on the other alternative that you may consider. Another popular alternative is removable dentures as it is more affordable and convenient as compared to implants as they do not require major surgery and has an overall shorter treatment time. It is advisable that you discuss with your dental professional on the best treatment plan that is catered to your needs. If you are searching for a reliable dental clinic, visit Guerrino Dentistry and their team of professional and approachable dental professionals who can provide you with top notch dental advice.
