Taking the first step towards getting dental implants by scheduling a consultation is a big decision. If you’re going into the process without any idea of what it will be like, especially if you’ve been living with tooth loss or a traditional dental prosthetic for some time, it’s important to understand the reality of your unique situation. For many people, preliminary treatments like bone grafting or a tooth extraction may be necessary before they can even be a good candidate for dental implants. Read on to learn more about these preparatory procedures and how they can help set you up for success below.
Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
Dental implants are unique in the fact that someone who may not be a good candidate for the procedure to start out with can become eligible for it later on. The main two factors for candidacy are having a dense enough jawbone to support your dental implants and being committed to maintaining good oral health and hygiene.
3 Common Preparatory Treatments Before Getting Dental Implants
For patients who have sustained jawbone loss as a result of missing teeth or using traditional prosthetics like dentures over the years, or even those with unique facial anatomy, preparatory treatments may be necessary before getting dental implants. Your implant dentist in Irving will let you know if you require any of these three common procedures before you can undergo implant surgery.
Bone Graft
Bone grafting helps improve the density of your jawbone by grafting either donor bone from another area of your body or from a donor to your bone structure. When the grafting material integrates with your bone structure, it will help create a stronger foundation for your dental implants to fuse with. This process, called osseointegration, is essential to the long-term health of your restorations.
Tooth Extraction
If you’re in need of dental implants, but upon inspection, one or more of your teeth are severely damaged beyond repair, you may need to have these teeth extracted before you can undergo implant surgery. This is because oral disease and decay can spread when left unchecked, which could leave your newly restored teeth in harm’s way if you didn’t receive an extraction before your surgery.
Sinus Lift
Your maxillary sinuses are located above the maxillary bone, or the top jawbone. If the sinuses are enlarged or located too low, they could risk being punctured during the dental implant placement. Sinus lifts do exactly as they say– they lift the sinuses, filling the open space with a graft, to prevent this complication from occurring.
How Do You Know if You Need a Preliminary Dental Implant Procedure?
The only way you can know if you require any of the three common preparatory procedures listed above is by scheduling a consultation with your implant dentist. They’ll review your oral health history, examine your mouth, and speak with you about your smile goals. Based on the findings of the consultation, they’ll put together a customized treatment plan and timeline for you.
Although the thought of needing to undergo additional preliminary treatments may make getting dental implants sound like high stakes, it’s important to understand that these set you up for long term success.
About the Author
Dr. Rafiq Hirji has over 10 years of experience practicing dentistry and has completed advanced training in the placement and restoration of dental implants. His expertise and skill allow him to offer the complete dental implant procedure in-house, but he partners with trusted specialists for advanced preliminary procedures to ensure ideal results. For questions or to schedule a dental implant consultation, visit Daily Smiles MacArthur Dental & Orthodontics’ website or call 972-546-4114.