Am I a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

If you are in reasonably good health, have a stable bone mass for implant support, and have lost one or more of your teeth, you are likely a good candidate for dental implants. If you don’t meet the second criteria—i.e., you have suffered bone resorption because of tooth extraction–you will have to undergo guided bone regeneration before implant surgery can begin.

Read why bone grafting surgery is needed for dental implants and what to expect in our previous blog, Bone Grafting Surgery and What to Expec t . When the dentist judges that your bone mass can support the implant posts, you are ready for the implant procedure.

Don’t Let Missing Teeth Go Unattended

Missing teeth undermine the foundation of good dental health and cause other problems. Left untreated, gum recession and jawbone shrinkage can occur. The surrounding teeth can be undermined through unsupported biting pressure, plaque buildup, and eventual decay.

So, anyone healthy enough to undergo a tooth extraction or routine dental surgery is a good candidate for a dental implant. Your dental surgeon in Melbourne, Florida will place titanium implants into your jawbone. Those implants are designed to fuse with the bone in a process called osseointegration.

Implants Are Preferred Over Dentures

Implants have become the preferred method of tooth replacement. Implanted denture restorations feel, function and look like natural teeth, and they are long-lasting—typically about 25 years. Also, dental implants have a success rate of nearly 98%.

Dentures, on the other hand, are removable and fit over the gums. They either rest on the gums or rely on metal clamps to existing natural teeth. Dentures are less expensive than implants and can be replaced or adjusted easily. Metal clamped dentures last longer, but many patients complain that the dentures tend to rock, pinch, and are uncomfortable.

Partial dental prosthetics like dental bridges consist of a porcelain cap that spans the space on either side of a missing tooth. The dentist must grind the surface of the teeth on either side of the gap, which can cause other problems. Bridges can fail when the filed-down teeth on either side are eventually eroded through bone loss or decay.

Full upper and/or lower dentures must be kept in place by using a denture adhesive that can be a bit messy. They also tend to rock and impede chewing and speech.

Implant Dentistry Can Be Life-Changing

The implant surgical procedure, while radical, is painless. After strong sedation, you will awaken with the implants ready for the dentures. Most patients suffer only mild discomfort. Post-operative swelling is easily controlled with over-the-counter pain medication like Tylenol.

With the new implant dentures, you can begin to enjoy a normal diet. You won’t experience the speech difficulties the average denture wearer experiences, and you’ll be free from the former aches and pains of missing teeth and gum disease.

Whatever bone loss you experienced prior to the bone restoration procedure will be permanently arrested. You’ll be able to chew solid food once more, and with your new natural smile, your self-confidence will be restored.

In Summary:

Implants are permanent, fixed, and immobile
Dental Implants integrate well with remaining teeth
Implants are low maintenance, can’t get cavities, and require only basic cleaning, attention, and periodic cleaning visits to a dentist
If the patient breaks an implant crown – a rather rare occurrence – repair is quick and usually done locally

Finally, consider the following three advantages of dental implant surgery at your dental implants surgery center in Melbourne:

1. Your looks will improve. More permanent and better fitting than dentures, your new implants look natural.

2. Your digestive health will improve. You will also begin to be able to chew your food and eat more easily. You no longer have to rely on your front incisors (meant for tearing and biting) to do double duty during mealtime.

3. You will no longer grind your teeth. Your new implants will be perfectly aligned with your existing teeth (or each other in the case of complete tooth replacement). Additionally, you will no longer awaken in the middle of the night with a sore jaw caused by bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching caused by, among other things, misalignment of teeth).

Missing Teeth?

Your oral surgery team in Melbourne, Florida is dedicated to restoring your smile and quality of life. Request an appointment and see how implant surgery can be the best option in restoring your missing teeth. Our experts at Sedaros Oral Facial Surgery and Dental Implants look forward to helping you have the smile you dream of!