Missing teeth are no joke. They can affect your appearance, your self-esteem, and your overall oral health. That’s why it’s important to find the right restorative solution as soon as possible. Bridges and dentures are both good options, but neither offer the immense benefits of dental implants. Implants permanently replace not only missing teeth, but also dental roots, making restorations secure and remarkably durable.
At Metropolitan Dental Care in Denver, CO, our periodontist, Dr. Mike Norouzinia performs all aspects of implant placement. At your initial consultation, he will use scans and digital x-rays to examine your jawbone and determine whether you are a candidate for implants. He will also consider your general oral and physical health before recommending treatment. Fortunately, most people are implant candidates. If they are not right for you, we will recommend another realistic restorative option.
To schedule your appointment, contact Metropolitan Dental Care today.
How many teeth are you missing?
Implants are a great option to replace one missing tooth or even all of your teeth! For a single missing tooth, Dr. Norouzinia will place one implant post, topped by a crown. Multiple missing teeth will require an implant-supported bridge. This will necessitate one or more implant posts, depending on the size of your restoration.
Finally, you can receive an implant-supported denture. A larger prosthetic will usually be upheld by four smaller implants placed at a slight angle. This will minimize the impact to your jaw.
Do you have a healthy jawbone?
To qualify for treatment, you must have sufficient bone tissue to ensure a secure base for implants. Bone recession occurs rapidly after tooth loss, so if you have been missing teeth for a while, this may impact your implant candidacy.
On the other hand, a bone grafting procedure can often reverse the effects of jaw recession and enable you to receive dental implants. Alternatively, Dr. Norouzinia may be able to use mini implants, which do not require as much bone tissue for support.
How is your periodontal health?
Uncontrolled gum disease can also affect your candidacy for implants. As gum disease progresses, the soft tissues can start to recede. This may cause implant failure, as the posts loosen and even come out.
Fortunately, once gum disease is under control, many people are still great candidates for dental implants. Scaling and root planing or a gum graft may enable you to successfully undergo treatment.
Do you have any underlying health conditions?
If you have a bleeding disorder or autoimmune disease that may affect surgical healing, dental implants may not be right for you. Diabetes can also affect your candidacy, increasing your risk for infection around the implant site. It is important to note, however, that this only applies if your blood sugar is chronically high. Patients with hyperglycemia are 3.39 times more likely to suffer from peri-implantitis. Those with normal blood sugar levels do not have a higher risk of complications.
Contact Us for a Dental Implants Consultation
Learn more about dental implants and find out if they are the right option for you. Book an appointment online or call us at 303-534-2626.
