Am I A Candidate to Get Dental Implants?

by Belmar Park Dental Care
· 6 min read
Implant Dentistry

Dental Implants Cover Image

Finally! A permanent way to replace your missing teeth, or loose dentures, with teeth that look and feel just like your natural teeth.

Sound too good to be true? And more importantly, can literally anyone get dental implants?

To see if you meet the requirements for dental implants were going to cover everything you need to be aware of about dental implants in this blog.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are artificial roots that are made to support one or more artificial teeth. Dental implants support fixed (permanent) teeth or removable teeth like full or partial dentures. This aesthetic and restorative dental treatment is the closest you can get to healthy, natural teeth.

Dental implants can also help the overall oral health of your jawbone, gums, and teeth.

How?

When you lose a tooth, the surrounding teeth tend to shift out of place, and the missing tooth’s bone begins to degrade. Implants are the only restorative dental option that will preserve natural bone and help to stimulate new bone growth.

If you’re already seeing signs of your teeth shifting or bone deterioration because of a missing tooth, don’t worry. We have numerous dental implant options we can discuss to help you love your smile again.

Why should you choose dental implants?

When you examine the following advantages, it’s no wonder why many people just like you tend to choose dental implants over other tooth replacement options:

  • A Gorgeously Natural smile: Dental implants will look and feel just like your natural teeth. Best of all, only you will know you have them. Care is the same too: You’ll brush, floss, and get regular cleanings and checkups.
  • Look younger and fresher: Dental implants are the only restoration option that preserves natural bone, will help stimulate bone growth, and prevent further bone loss. Retain your natural face shape and your smile for years to come.
  • Smile with confidence again: Unlike other tooth replacement options, dental implants won’t slip or click when you talk, eat, or laugh. You’ll also notice that your speech is much more natural than it would be with dentures.
  • Eat whatever, whenever: Dentures are known to slide and cause discomfort when eating. However, dental implants function just like your natural teeth, allowing you to eat virtually anything you want, whenever you want.
  • Proven success rate: Modern dental implants have been used successfully for 30+ years, with a success rate of 98%. When performed by an expert dental implant doctor, the procedure is one of the industry’s safest and most predictable treatments.
  • Save hard-earned money: With proper care, dental implants can last you a lifetime. Other tooth replacement options may appear more affordable upfront, however, you will have to pay that cost multiple times, making them more expensive in comparison.

Am I a candidate to get dental implants?

If you have one or more missing teeth – regardless of the reason how you lost your teeth– then the answer is:

Yes, you are most likely a candidate to receive dental implants.

That being said, there are many factors that go into how, when, and if you meet the criteria for dental implants, these include:

  • Your Age: Children or adolescents may need to wait until their facial growth and development have been completed to ensure long-term success. This is normally around 16 for girls and 18 for boys.
  • Your Health: If you are or have been a heavy smoker, or if you suffer from uncontrolled chronic disorders such as diabetes, or have had radiation therapy to your head or neck area, you will need to be evaluated by your Lakewood, CO dental provider.
  • Enough healthy bone: If you are missing the needed amount of supportive bone for a dental implant, you may require a bone augmentation or zygomatic dental implant.

For the best answer, based on your individual situation, request a complimentary consult with Belmar Park Dental Care today.

Are there different types of dental implants?

Implants come in different sizes, heights, and types, just like teeth. You and your dentist will create a customized treatment plan, which might include one of the following types of dental implants:

  • Endosteal: These implants are placed into the jawbone using a small (normally titanium) screw. Endosteal is the most common dental implant.
  • Subperiosteal: These implants are placed on or above the jawbone (not in it). This is the type of implant that can be used in patients who don’t have enough supportive bone or are unable to undergo a bone augmentation.

If you don’t have enough jawbone to support a dental implant, there are a few potential options:

  • Bone augmentation: Uses bone additives and artificial growth factors to restore or regenerate new bone in your jaw so that it can be strong enough to support an implant.
  • Sinus lift: Adds bone below a sinus cavity, where the bone has deteriorated due to missing teeth in the upper arch. A sinus lift is also called a sinus augmentation.
  • Ridge expansion: This procedure adds bone graft material to a small ridge created along the top of your jaw bone.

What is your dental implant procedure?

The following procedure is based on the common endosteal type dental implant. But remember, based on the factors discussed above, no two treatment plans will be exactly alike.

  • Initial Consultation: Consult with your dentist on a personalized treatment plan. This consultation may also include associated costs, insurance coverage limits, and a treatment timeline.
  • Placement of the dental implant: A small titanium post is placed into your jawbone. Most find this procedure less painful than tooth extraction and can return to work the very next day. Anesthesia or sedation is available to keep you comfortable.
  • Healing: This is formally referred to as osseointegration, your jawbone will heal around the placed implant, forming a strong foundation. This can take anywhere between six weeks to a couple of months.
  • Placing the abutment: Once the implant is healed, a small connector is placed on top of the dental implant, just above your gum line, which holds your new tooth or supports your denture securely.
  • Attaching the Crown: Based on the impression your Lakewood dentist made, your new tooth will look and feel just like your natural tooth. This tooth, formally referred to as a dental crown, is then attached to the abutment.

Dentures attached to the abutment for support can be either removable or permanently placed by your dentist.

Are dental implants worth the investment?

Take this quick test to find out for yourself:

I want to replace one or more of my missing teeth
I want to retain my facial structure
I want to be able to eat whatever I want
I want to be confident about my smile and teeth
I want to save money in the long run

If you said yes to any of the above, contact Belmar Park Dental Care today to discuss if dental implants are an option for you.

Contact us to schedule your appointment. Have questions? Call us at (303) 986-9522. Or learn more about our dental services.