A missing tooth can impact your confidence, your ability to chew and your overall dental function. While dental implants are a long lasting option for missing teeth, they’re not suitable for every patient. If you are considering treatment, a professional evaluation will help you know if your mouth is ready for an implant and what may need to be done first.
Interestingly, patients considering affordable orthodontics may also have missing or damaged teeth that need restorative treatment.
Complete Dental provides personalized evaluation to help patients determine if dental implants are right for them and what the treatment process may look like.
The Implant Cadidacy Check
Think of dental implant candidacy as a series of questions to be answered by your dentist.
Is the Tooth Missing or Beyond Repair?
Implants are used to replace missing teeth. If a tooth is badly broken down or can’t be restored well, then an implant supported restoration can be one of the options worth discussing.
Your dentist will have a look at the tooth and surrounding structures and then advise whether to extract or replace.
Is There Enough Bone to Support the Implant?
Dental implants are placed into the jawbone and it is important that there is adequate bone support.
When a tooth has been missing a long time, the bone surrounding the area may change slowly. Depending on the amount of bone loss, sometimes additional treatment may be recommended prior to implant placement.
Dental imaging can help the dentist to evaluate the amount of bone available and to verify whether this can be sufficient support.
Are Your Gums Healthy?
Healthy gums are the essential foundation for implant treatment. If you have gum disease, you may need treatment before the implant can be placed.
This is one of the reasons a full dental evaluation matters. If you have other problems with your gums or oral health, then just replacing the missing tooth may not be enough.
Can You Maintain Good Oral Hygiene?
An implant is not a substitute for good dental habits.
After implant treatment it is still important to brush regularly, clean between the teeth and visit your dental professional for check ups. Patients should be willing to take care of their oral health to protect the implant and surrounding tissues thru time.
What If You Need More Than One Treatment?
The dental treatment does not always take place in a vacuum.
A comprehensive treatment plan may include treating gum health, damaged teeth, tooth alignment or missing teeth. Knowing what each treatment is supposed to do is especially important when comparing affordable orthodontics with restorative options.
Orthodontic treatment is mainly used to move and align teeth and dental implants are used to replace missing teeth. Sometimes different treatment options are considered at different times.
When Should You Speak With an Implant Dentist?
If you are missing a tooth, have a badly damaged tooth or are having trouble chewing due to tooth loss, then it might be time to talk about replacement options with an implant dentist Houston, TX patients can see for professional advice.
During a typical consultation, we’ll review your dental history, examine your teeth and gums and decide whether we need to take any images or other assessments.
Making an Informed Choice
Adequate evaluation and planning are the starting point for successful replacement of missing teeth with dental implants. The condition of the surrounding teeth, gum health, overall health, oral hygiene and bone support all need to be considered.
If you are considering an implant dentist Houston, TX patients can turn to for guidance, Complete Dental can assist you to discuss your treatment options with an individualized dental evaluation. Understanding your candidacy can initially shed light on next steps and help you to move forward with more confidence.