Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Colorado Springs, CO
Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants? provided by Andrew Miller, DDS
and Francisco Darquea, DDS
in Colorado Springs, CO at SmileCOS Dentistry
 When you lose teeth as a child, it is exciting. You may have a tooth party at school, get a special container to fit your tooth in, and even get a small reward for your tooth! However, losing teeth as an adult is not exciting at all. When you lose teeth as an adult, you need to find a way to replace those teeth for the overall health of your mouth, gums, and jawbone. It is time to ask our dentist at SmileCOS Dentistry: "Am I a candidate for dental implants?" You need information about dental implants and who makes a good candidate for implant surgery.
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What Are Dental Implants?
When you have missing teeth as an adult, whether it is due to trauma or disease, you need to think about replacing those lost natural teeth. There are several dental restoration techniques available, but dental implants represent the highest standard of care. Implants resemble the natural structures of your teeth.
All dental implants are fabricated in the same manner. They consist of an implant post, which our dentist will implant into your jawbone to provide strength and support. They are made of a lightweight, strong metal such as titanium or zirconium. A connecting piece, the abutment connects the implant base to your prosthetic tooth.
What Does the Dental Implant Procedure Look Like?
Dental implant procedures vary, depending on the type of implant you need. However, all implant procedures have a similar format. The first step is to determine whether you are a good candidate for implant surgery.
Am I A Good Candidate For Dental Surgery?
While implant surgery has revolutionized the prosthetic and restorative dental practices of dentists all over the world, not everyone is a good candidate for this procedure. There are some requirements for implant surgery.
Bone Density
One of the most important aspects of implant surgery is whether or not you have sufficient bone density in your jawbone to support dental implants. Implant posts will be placed directly into your jawbone to support your prosthetic tooth, bridge, or dentures. If you do not have good bone density, the implant will fail. If bone density is an issue in the area where you need an implant, you may still be able to get dental implants. Our dentist may need to do bone grafts to strengthen your jawbone before you can have implant procedures.
Good Oral Health
In addition to having sufficient bone density to support implants, you also need to be in good oral health. That means your candidacy for dental implants depends on your remaining teeth and gums being healthy. If you have gum disease that has not been treated, you will need to have that treated before implant surgery. Because gum disease is an infection, having active gum disease during implant surgery means you will be at a much higher risk for an infection in your jawbone and surrounding gum tissue, which could cause your implant to fail. Luckily, our dental professionals can treat your gum disease, and then you may be able to get implants.
Good Overall Health
Not only do you have to be in good oral health to receive dental implants, but you also need to be in good overall health. If you have a chronic condition such as heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease, you should check with your doctor and our dentist before you undergo any type of dental procedure.
Steps to Dental Implant Surgery
Now that you know you may qualify for dental surgery, the next step will be an oral examination by our dentist. Wevwill need to take measurements, X-rays, and pictures to get precise measurements of your mouth, as well as your jawbone density. During the consultation, you may even get to see a visualization of what your smile will look like after implant surgery.
Our dentists will also talk with you about which type of implants you need. You may only be missing one tooth, which would require one implant. However, our dentists have other dental implant options as well, such as an implant-supported bridge or implanted dentures.
Dental Implant Placement
Once you and our dentist have discussed how the implant procedure will go, at your next appointment, the implant process will begin. For implant surgery, our dentist will need to make an incision into your gum tissue where the implant will be located so they can access your jawbone.
Then, they will drill a hole into your jawbone and place the implant post. If you are getting a larger implant, such as an implant-supported bridge or implanted dentures, you will need between two and four posts for the implant. You may also need more if you are having more than one single tooth implant.
Once your dental implant bases are placed, you will then need to rest and allow your jawbone to heal fully before the next step can take place. Most patients need between three to six months for their jawbone to heal completely. As it heals, your jawbone will grow new bone tissue around your implant, which anchors it to your jawbone and provides the structure and support for your implant.
After your jawbone heals, you will return to SmileCOS Dentistry to have your abutments (the parts that connect the implant to the prosthetic teeth) attached to your implant posts. Our dentists will make a small incision into your gum tissue to expose the top of your dental implant. Then, they will attach the abutment and close the gum tissue around the abutment, which is made from porcelain, titanium, or gold. You will need a few weeks to heal from the abutment placement.
Finally, our dentists will place your prosthetic tooth over your abutment, and the implant process is complete. Then, it will be time for you to enjoy your brand-new dental implant!
More About Dental Implants in Colorado Springs
Dental Implants (General Info)
All on 4
Implants vs Bridges and Dentures
Multiple Teeth Implants
Single Tooth Implant
Snap in Dentures
Find Out if You Are a Candidate! Call Us in Colorado Springs Today!
If you are unhappy with missing teeth but are not sure if you are a good candidate for dental implants, it is time to talk to our dentists in Colorado Springs. We can determine whether you would be a suitable candidate. We can also make suggestions as to which implant procedure may work best for you. Reach out to SmileCOS Dentistry at (719) 394-3304 so we can schedule an appointment for you.
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