If you are interested in prosthetic tooth replacements after losing a tooth due to periodontal disease, tooth infection, or dental trauma, you may be wondering if you’re a good candidate for dental implants. At Crossroads Family Dentistry, we want our patients to be well-informed about their options.
The most important factors to determine whether your mouth can support an implant are gum and jaw bone health. The health of the gum and bone in your mouth are absolutely essential for a healthy, long-lasting dental implant.
3 Reasons Gum And Bone Health Are Critical For Healthy Dental Implants
There are many reasons that your gums and jaw bone must be healthy for a proper dental implant:
- Damaged gums and bone cannot support implants properly – A dental implant is intended to rest securely in the tissue of the gum and jaw, essentially replacing the natural “root” of your tooth, and providing a platform upon which a crown, bridge, or permanent denture can be installed.
When your gums are healthy, they fit around your implant securely, protecting it and ensuring that it stays in place, and your healthy jaw tissue bonds with the implant permanently. If your gums or jaw are weakened, the implant simply cannot heal correctly, and it won’t be secure. - Gum recession can cause the root of the implant to be exposed – If your gums continue to recede after you have an implant placed, the root of the implant can be exposed to the bacteria in the mouth, as well as food particles. This means that it’s harder to keep the implant in good condition, and it may become infected or have to be removed.
- Periodontal disease poses a serious infection risk – If you have periodontal disease, you may not be able to get an implant until it’s under control, because the same bacteria that causes gum disease can also cause “peri-implantitis”, an infection of the dental implant.
Even if your periodontal disease under control at the moment, you may be unable to get an implant if your jaw bone is soft, and your gum tissue has deteriorated significantly from past damage.
Can I Still Get A Dental Implant If I Have Weak Gums and Jawbone?
We have good news! Even if your gum and bone tissues are not strong, you may still be able to receive a dental implant. However, you will likely need a “bone graft” before the procedure. A bone graft is used to implant a piece of bone into your jaw and provide a stable, healthy platform upon which the dental implant can rest.
Interested In Dental Implants in Oklahoma City? Contact Us Now!
If you’re not sure whether you’re eligible for a dental implant, we’ll assess your dental health during a consultation with Dr. Faulconer, Dr. Dais, or Dr. Underwood. Give us a call now at (405) 631-0322 to get started, or drop by our office at 8101 South Walker, Suite D, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73139. We hope to see you soon!
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