Am I a Candidate for Implants? When we meet someone new for the first time, we tend to notice their smile right away. Smiles are an important part of first impressions. For those people who have suffered from widespread tooth loss whether it be by decay, disease, or a simple lack of oral hygiene, it can easily take a toll on their confidence and be a detriment to their appearance. Without the supportive structure of their teeth behind the gums and cheeks, those tissues scan sag inward to the oral cavity and drastically change the way they look. Many patients who are looking at artificial tooth solutions, choose dental implants because they are permanent and offer incredible results. The problem is not everyone who is interested in getting dental implants is considered a good candidate for them. There are risk factors which can preclude some patients from being able to get dental implants.The best candidates are those patients who practice good oral hygiene and have a good degree of medical health. Any patient who has low bone mass is not considered a good candidate. This is because a minimal amount of bone mass is required to properly support the dental implants when they are placed. Any patients who are interested in finding out more about the procedure are welcome to come see us at Coastal Maine Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. Are Dental Implants for Me?Some of the risk factors which can affect a particular patient from being eligible for dental implants can seem obvious while others might not be. One such factor is the patient's age. Some patients might ask why the age is significant. It is quite simple. The older we get, the less bone mass we have. It slowly is lost through the aging process and because dental implants require a specific amount of bone mass to allow a successful placement of the implants, patients who are over the age of 65 may not be considered good candidates. This is the same for those patients who have gone through radiation treatment; they may not be considered good candidates either. Another surprising fact about bone mass is the way it is affected by hormone levels. Because of this, those who are going through menopause are not considered good candidates either. While those factors are valid and important to consider it does not mean patients with those concerns are automatically removed from consideration. It simply means that certain precautions might need to be considered to ensure that the implant placement is successful. Alternative TreatmentsIf the patient is not considered a good candidate for the implant procedure, there are some alternatives such as mini implants. With their small size, they do not need as much bone mass as traditional dental implants. Another option is the All-on-4 Treatment Concept. The implants in this treatment model, only four of them, are inserted at an angle and also require less bone mass too. Those considering dental implants should come to see us to determine if they are a good candidate. We are always available at our Coastal Maine Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. We can be reached at 207-401-5006 to schedule a consultation appointment. |
