Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?

Most people with missing teeth are candidates for dental implants.  An ideal candidate would be free of periodontal (gum) disease with healthy bone.  Even diabetic patients (so long as their diabetes is managed well), are potential candidates.  As long as you are relatively healthy and have good oral health, you are most likely to qualify. 

Even people with compromised jaw bones, whether atrophied or injured, often have options to receive dental implants.  And that could be through bone grafting and sinus lifts, or through bone regenerative advancements.  It is possible to reconstruct jaw bone that will allow our specialists to successfully place long-lasting implants.

However, the only way to really know if you’re a candidate is to have a consultation with one of our restorative dental professionals.  They will perform a comprehensive clinical exam where they will evaluate the health of your teeth, gums, jawbone, and bite.  Our restorative professionals who evaluate you are trained in occlusion (the science of bites), which is a critical to the outcome of your dental implants.  Not every dentist who provides dental implants are trained in evaluating and correcting their patient’s bite, which can lead to chipped or broken prostheses.  

Exam and Consultation

During your initial consultation, our restorative dentist will evaluate your overall health as well as get to know you as an individual—what you want and expect, what you fear and worry, and what we can do for your particular case.  They will then be able to personalize their care for you so you can get the best outcome possible.  They will answer any questions or concerns you may have.

After your initial consultation, you will be required to have a 3D CT Scan done so that a Brushwell restorative dentist along with a specialist will do their homework on how to best construct a treatment plan for you.  They will offer you several treatment plan options dependent on the complexity of your case.  Also, you will be presented with the treatment cost estimates and timelines, all without any pressure.

How many dental implants do I need?

Generally, a single implant replaces a single tooth.  However, if you need implants for an entire upper or lower jaw, then you may need 6 to 8 implants per jaw for a fixed full-arch implant prosthesis (or 2 to 4 implants for removable full-arch implant prosthesis.

To find out if you’re a candidate, please contact our office at (626) 288-8940.

This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.