There are a lot of factors that will decide whether or not you’re a good candidate for dental implants. These include the overall health of your mouth, teeth and gums; your age; and the overall condition of your health.

What qualifies you for dental implants?

To get dental surgery, your health has to be good enough to undergo surgery of any kind. You also have to have enough bone and gum tissue to hold dental implants, which can be affected by the number and placement of teeth to undergo surgery. Sometimes a bone graft will be necessary, which puts your teeth and jaw further at risk, so you need to have a strong jaw. Osteoperosis sufferers will need to consult their dentist before making the determination to get dental implants.

In general, health conditions like heart disease won’t affect whether or not you can get a dental implant safely. One thing that will put you at risk is smoking because it reduces your body’s ability to heal itself. As a result, you could hurt the osseointegration process after your implant has been placed. Osseointegration is the process of bone growth around your dental implant that secures it in its position. Without new bone growth, your dental implant will not stay put, and in the worst case you’ll need to completely remove and replace it. That’s a lot of extra expense and hassle for you.

Patients above the age of 18 usually have fully developed jawbones, so bone development won’t be interrupted by surgery. Before the jaws have matured, around the age of 16 to 18, dental implants are not recommended. Beyond this age, however, no one is too old to get dental implants.

Some medications might lead to complications after the procedure. There is an osteoporosis medication on the market that has been suspected to lead to osteonecrosis of the jaw, which will increase your risk. SSRI’s, a kind of antidepressant, have also been associated with lower success rates of dental implants. Antibiotics might also present a risk as will certain pain relievers.

How can I make sure that my dental implant procedure is successful?

To make the most of your dental implant procedure and to ensure its success, make sure that you show up to all of your follow-up appointments and strictly follow your dentist’s instructions. Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing regularly are going to help ensure that your dental implants don’t come loose and necessitate replacement later.

Come into our office in Los Angeles to see if you’re a good candidate for dental implants. We’ll do a thorough examination to make sure that you’re at the least risk possible. Our dental implant success rate is one of the best in the industry thanks to our experienced staff, so don’t hesitate to call us.