Who Is A Candidate For Implant Therapy?

Each year, hundreds of thousands of people all around the world benefit from dental implant therapy, from children in their early years to adults in their nineties. According to The American Academy of Periodontology, "The ideal candidate for a dental implant is in good general and oral health. Adequate bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant, and the best candidates have healthy gum tissues that are free from periodontal disease."

• Your dentist will evaluate various factors to determine if you’re a candidate for dental implants. Those factors may include certain health conditions (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes) or risk factors (e.g.,smoking). These types of conditions may not rule out dental implants, but they must be taken into consideration to be sure they will not compromise successful implant therapy.
• One important factor affecting implant therapy is the density of your jaw bone, which can vary in density from very dense (ideal) to very porous or spongy. Less-than-ideal bone density does not necessarily prevent having dental implants, but it will likely affect your treatment plan.

The Effect Of Not Replacing A Missing Tooth

This x-ray reveals the bone loss that follows tooth loss.

 
Adjacent teeth become misaligned as they move into the space created by the missing tooth.

The impact of tooth loss and bone resorption: collapsed facial profiles, sunken lips, increased wrinkles around the mouth and a pointed chin and nose that appear too close.