While the Mayo Clinic offers a comprehensive overview of dental implant surgery, it’s not necessary to travel all the way to its world-renowned facility in Rochester, Minnesota, for excellent dental implant care. Here are the 8 signs that the Mayo Clinic shares for consideration and a local alternative for care:
- You have missing teeth. It may be the most obvious one, but there are other options for missing teeth, including fixed bridges and removable dentures . But if you have tried these in the past and they are wearing with age, or if you want a more permanent solution right out of the gate, then it’s worth approaching your dentist about implants.
- Your jawbone has reached full growth. Implants can only be placed on full-grown adults. If you fit that category, you’re a great candidate for implants.
- You have adequate bone to secure the implants or are able to have a bone graft. In an initial consultation, even as an extension of your next checkup, your dentist can affirm this for you.
- You have healthy oral tissues. This, too, is an attribute that your dentist can check and affirm for you in a simple visit.
- You don’t have health conditions that will affect bone healing. Clinically speaking, when the bone doesn’t heal properly, it’s called a delayed union or nonunion. Conditions that may cause this include older age, diabetes, nicotine use, severe anemia and hypothyroidism. Poor nutrition or a vitamin D deficiency may also be the culprit. If you have any of these conditions, talk to your dentist about alternatives to implants. If you’re clear of these and any other conditions that your dentist may ask about, implants may be for you.
- You are unable or unwilling to wear dentures. Implants are the perfect alternative to dentures, feeling and working much more like your natural teeth.
- You want to improve your speech. When teeth function properly, the mouth’s entire functionality improves. If you are concerned about a speech impediment that is affected by missing teeth, ask your dentist for possible solutions. Implants may very well be one of them.
- You are willing to commit several months to the process. While the actual procedure is relatively quick and painless, the whole process takes 3-6 months. Your dentist can clarify exactly what you can do (a lot) and cannot do (not too much) during this period.
If you feel that implants might be right for you, your local family dentist may be able to help.
