Want Dental Implants But Aren't Sure If You Are Eligible? Here Is A Quick Rundown

Posted on: 18 February 2020

Dental implants are a great way to continue a relatively normal life when it comes to chewing, speaking and all things oral. They are sturdier than dentures, they are more complete than fillings and they last for decades. Sounds great, right? Thousands of Australians think so and have had the procedure done, but not everyone is eligible for dental implants. If you want them but are confused about whether you fit the criteria, here is a quick rundown. 

Jawbone Health

The number one determining factor for dental implants is whether or not your jawbone will stand up to the procedure. Dental implants work because the crown is attached to a metal rod that is drilled into your jawbone, emulating the root structure. This makes dental implants at least as sturdy as regular teeth but also means that your jawbone has to be in good condition to be able to stand up to the procedure. Most people pass this test easily as the jawbone is strong throughout most of your life, but if you have had an accident and your jawbone has been broken in the past, you may encounter some problems. 

Is There Anything You Can Do To Remedy An Unsuitable Jawbone?

There are operations that you can take to fix an unsteady jawbone so that dental implants can be viable long-term. A bone graft is a simple procedure where bone material from another part of your jaw is removed and attached to the section where it will be needed for a dental implant. Bone grafts are done all over the body for different reasons. The only issue will be a slight delay between the bone graft surgery and the installation of the dental implants. That is because the area must be allowed to heal before it can be operated on again. 

Gum Issues

Apart from the jawbone's stability, there is sometimes an issue with the gums of some patients. If you are currently suffering from gum disease, your dentist will not operate on you until it has been cleared up because of the risk of further infection. Gum disease is also extremely painful, so you wouldn't want to go through the operation anyway. Luckily, in almost all cases this is a temporary problem that is easier to remedy than jawbone issues. Your dentist will merely prescribe some antibiotics and maybe some special toothpaste, and that should be all that is required. 

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