Dental Implants Indianapolis Guide: Are You a Candidate?

Dental Implants Indianapolis Guide: Are You a Candidate?

Dental implants, Indianapolis oral surgeons and dentists will tell you, are the best solution available today for dental restoration after tooth loss, whether a single tooth is to be replaced or a mouthful. While most people can be treated with dental implants today, thanks to newer surgical techniques and implant designs, they still aren’t for everyone. So are you a good candidate for dental implants? Only your dental professional can give you a definitive answer, but there are some guidelines that can give you a general idea.

DENTAL IMPLANTS INDIANAPOLIS: WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE?

The ideal candidate for dental implants is in great general health, has healthy gums and plenty of strong, healthy bone in the jaw for secure implant placement and osseointegration, which is the process by which the implant becomes fused with the jawbone. However, relatively few people who have successful implant based restorations meet all of those ideal standards, so if you don’t, that doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t a candidate. In general, most anyone with missing teeth who is healthy enough to undergo routine dental treatment may be a candidate for dental implants, although there are some exceptions.

Uncontrolled diabetes, active periodontal disease, advanced osteoporosis or certain cancers can make a person a poor candidate for dental implants. Indianapolis patients who have a severely compromised immune system, are undergoing radiation treatments or are on certain medications may also be poor candidates for dental implant procedures.

Implants are generally not suitable for children or adolescents who haven’t yet finished growing or people who have serious problems with teeth grinding or clenching. Bone loss from previous periodontal disease or long-time use of dentures or bridges may pose a problem for some patients, but can, in many cases, be remedied through bone grafting.

DON’T GUESS, GET AN EVALUATION

If you think dental implants may be right for you, the best way to find out for sure is to schedule a consultation with an Indianapolis oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Look for a surgeon in private practice with years of experience with dental implant procedures. That’s a better bet for a thorough, honest evaluation than one of those dental implant chains, since they tend to attract younger, less experienced surgeons who may feel pressured to sell implants. Additionally, should you and your surgeon decide to move forward with dental implants, Indianapolis surgeons with more experience tend to have higher success rates, especially in patients who, like most of us, aren’t the ideal implant candidate.