Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
Dental implants are the gold standard in modern dentistry for replacing missing teeth. This treatment option provides a permanent solution which looks and functions like your own teeth. Unlike traditional dentures or bridges, dental implants are implanted straight into your jawbone. Using a natural process called bone integration, a titanium post fuses with your jawbone to provide a stable artificial root for your bespoke crown.
Whilst dental implants have a very high success rate, there are a few factors that must be considered when determining if you would be a suitable candidate. To help you prepare for your consultation and improve your chances of a successful outcome, here are some key factors:
1. Sufficient Bone
The quality and volume of your jawbone is a key factor for successful dental implants. Your jawbone needs to have enough density so your titanium post can be securely held in place.
Bone Loss: When your tooth is lost, the area where your tooth was will no longer experience natural stimulation. This causes natural bone loss and your jawbone will reduce in height and width.
3D Bone Scans: Your dentist will carry out a 3D Cone Beam CT scan to determine the exact measurements of your bone. They will look at the height, thickness of the bone and how close it is to nerves/sinuses.
Bone Grafting: If you do not have enough bone volume, this does not mean you cannot receive dental implants. Your dentist can perform modern bone grafting techniques, ridge augmentation or sinus lifts to regenerate your bone and give you a strong base for your dental implants.
2. Healthy Gums
Healthy soft tissues are a very important factor for dental implants. The gum tissue around your implant post will form a barrier protecting your bone.
Periodontal Disease: Active periodontal disease contains aggressive bacteria that can cause damage to your bone and soft tissues. If your dentist places your implant in an area with active periodontal disease, the bacteria can cause hard tissue destruction. This will cause bone loss and implant failure.
Gingivitis: If you suffer from gingivitis ,you will need to attend deep periodontal treatments such as scaling and root planning before your implant can be performed.
Healthy Tissues: You will need sufficient thick gum tissue around your implant site.
3. Good General Health
As placing a dental implant is a minor surgery, your body needs to be able to heal properly.
Chronic Conditions: If you have any chronic conditions such as controlled hypertension or heart issues, this will not stop you from having implants. As long as your doctor clears you for minor oral surgery.
Diabetes: If you suffer from well controlled diabetes (HbA1C targets being met), your success rate for implants will be the same as someone without diabetes. If you have uncontrolled diabetes, this can cause poor blood circulation and slow healing. This will increase your chances of implant failure.
Autoimmune Conditions: Any conditions affecting your immune system or taking long term suppressants need to be considered. This can cause slow healing.
4. Complete Bone Growth
Age will rarely be a factor for mature adults. However, your jawbone needs to be fully developed.
Children/Teens: You should not receive dental implants whilst you are a child or teenager. If you have your implant placed too early, your implant will become misaligned as your natural bone grows around it.
Minimum Age: Most clinicians will wait until your jawbone has fully finished growing. This will usually be 18 years old for females and 20/21 years for males. They will also carry out growth scans to confirm your bone has stopped growing.
Seniors: Seniors are excellent candidates for implants. As long as they meet the basic criteria, they will gain back their chewing ability, eat better and improve their quality of life.
5. Non-smoker
Your lifestyle will have a big impact on your success of dental implant surgery. Smoking is one of the leading causes of implant failure.
Poor Blood Circulation: Smoking causes blood vessels to constrict meaning less blood and oxygen can reach healing tissues.
Higher Failure Rate: Studies show smokers have a higher chance of infection, slower bone integration .
Willing to Quit: If you are a smoker, you should be willing to quit smoking for at least 2 weeks before the surgery and several months during the bone integration stage.
6. Excellent Oral Hygiene
Although dental implants cannot get natural cavities, they can still get bacterial build up, plaque and inflamed tissues.
Good Daily Hygiene: You must be willing to practice excellent daily hygiene. This includes brushing twice a day with soft bristle brushes. Inter dental cleaning with special tools or water flosses and antibacterial mouth rinses.
Regular Professional Cleanings: You must be willing to attend regular check-ups and deep cleanings every 6 months.
No History of Poor Hygiene: If you have a history of poor oral hygiene, you must be willing to practice good daily habits.
7. No Severe Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding will have a huge effect on your dental implant.
Too Much Pressure: Severe teeth grinding at night can cause excessive lateral pressure on your implant post and abutment.
Failure: This can cause screws to come loose, chipping of ceramic crowns and micro fractures to your jawbone.
Night-guards: If you suffer from teeth grinding, you can still have successful implants as long as you are willing to wear a bespoke night guard whilst sleeping.
Ideal Dental Implant Candidate
- Sufficient height, width and density of jawbone.
- Healthy gums with no active periodontal disease.
- Overall good general health with chronic conditions well managed (e.g. diabetes).
- Fully grown jawbone (usually 18 years old or older).
- Non-smoker or willing to stop smoking completely.
- Willing to practice excellent daily hygiene including brushing and flossing. Attending regular check-ups every 6 months.
- Not taking specific high dose medications such as IV bi phosphates
- Willing to wear a bespoke night guard if suffering from teeth grinding.
FAQs
Am I too old for implants?
No! There is no age limit on receiving dental implants.
As long as you are in good general health, have been cleared for minor oral surgery and have sufficient bone density, your age will not affect your success rates.
Can I get implants if I have osteoporosis?
In most cases yes. Osteoporosis will not stop you from receiving implants unless it is severe. However, your dentist will need to carefully consider what medications you are currently taking. If you are taking bi phosphates (oral or IV) to help with your osteoporosis, this can sometimes affect healing of your jawbone.
I do not have enough bone for implants?
If your 3D CBCT scan shows you don’t have enough bone height/density, your dentist can perform a bone graft. Bone graft material will be inserted into your jawbone to regenerate your bone. A few months later your jawbone will have a high density base to allow an implant post to be placed.
How long does the whole implant process take?
On average, dental implants can take between 3-6 months to complete. If you require any extractions, deep gum treatments or bone grafting, your treatment can take up to 9 months.
Conclusion
To determine if you are a good candidate for implants, your dentist will consider your bone volume, gum health, general health and lifestyle. Thanks to modern dental techniques, such as 3D scanning, bone grafting and periodontics, most patients missing teeth will be able to receive implants. Book in for a full assessment with your dental specialist to find out if you have a healthy jawbone.