Can Anyone Have Dental Implants?
Tooth implants are one of the most impressive treatments in the dental world. To restore one missing tooth is an incredible feat, so imagine how our patients feel when they replace whole sets of teeth – and do away with dentures altogether!
However, while dental implants are suitable for most people, our dentists note that there are exceptions:
- Those who are pregnant
- Those with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes
- Those with gum disease or bone loss
Why have dental implants?
Whether one tooth or several, dental implants restore the appearance and function of the smile. They can help maintain your gum tissue and underlying bone, and can also preserve the structure of the face (where missing teeth might have created a sunken appearance). Best of all, they’re natural-looking, and a much more discreet option than dentures.
Are there any pre-requisites for dental implants?
When it comes to having tooth implants, there are a couple of things that are considered to be ‘pre-requisites’ – a condition you need to meet in order to have the treatment. These include:
- Being a
non-smoker – smoking not only seriously affects your general health, but
it’s damaging for your oral health, too. It can lead to gum recession, which
could affect the success of your treatment (i.e. cause the tooth implant to become
loose) and can also inhibit the healing part of the process.
- Having good oral health – being generally orally healthy is essential for tooth implants. If you have gum or periodontal disease, again, this could affect the longevity of the dental implants, and even whether you’d be a suitable candidate in the first place. That’s why a detailed consultation is always required for the treatment.
What about teenagers?
Dental implants shouldn’t be recommended to those under 18. That’s because your jaw is still growing and bones are still developing in younger people. Our dentists always focus on developing good oral habits in children and teenagers, to help prevent the need for treatments such as dental implants in the future.
Can you be too old for dental implants?
No – age doesn’t really factor into the decision. It’s more centred around patient suitability, as we’ve already touched on.
Do dental implants need replacing?
Once in place, your tooth implants should last a lifetime. Of course, you’ll need to maintain high oral health standards and ensure you have regular check-ups with our team. If you’d like to start on your implants journey, then talk to our dentists today! We serve the Liskeard area and would love to help you too.