Dayton residents ask, “Am I a candidate for tooth implants?”

Missing teeth can be a bothersome occurrence for many adults. It can cause you to feel uncomfortable smiling and can affect the first impression you leave on people. There are many different options available to patients who want to restore missing teeth, and discovering which one works for you can be overwhelming.

Dental implants are one way many patients choose to correct the gaps in their smile. Tooth loss not only affects the aesthetics of the smile, but it can also have health implications as well. When teeth are removed or lost, it can cause bone degeneration in the jaw. This process can occur gradually over time until a person is left with a transformation of their face that leaves them looking old. Implants are a natural-looking and long lasting solution that can restore functionality and beauty to your smile.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are small titanium rods that act as artificial tooth roots when surgically implanted into the jawbone. They are permanent and can be a solution for missing teeth regardless of whether they were lost to decay, injury, or disease.

Candidates for implants:

The successful placement of dental implants is largely dependent on sufficient bone structure and healthy gum tissue. This means the dental implants are not always the right choice for everyone. The following criteria help identify ideal candidates for dental implants:

• Patients who are in good overall health
• Patients who have severely decayed teeth or are missing at least one tooth
• Patients who are not candidates for removable dentures
• Patients with sufficient jawbone structure
• Patients with healthy gum tissue
• Patients who practice effective daily oral hygiene

Patients who have certain chronic diseases like diabetes or hemophilia are not good candidates for implants. Those who are pregnant, smoke regularly, grind their teeth, or have had radiation to the neck or head should not receive implants.

If you are in the Dayton area and missing teeth are making you “miss the mark” in your personal and professional life, call Alex Bell Dental today to learn more about dental implants and find out if they are right for you. We also have a variety of other options to help restore the smiles of all of our patients. A beautiful new smile is just around the corner.