Do I Really Need A Healthy Mouth To Have Dental Implants?
Whether you’re considering dental implants in Richmond or indeed any other town or city, you probably already know that there are certain requirements that you need to meet in order to be eligible. These criteria aren’t because of any type of exclusivity issues, instead they’re put in place to make sure that
The risk to the patient during the surgical procedure is minimal and…..- Once the implants are placed, they stand the best chance of success.
One such requirement is that patients need to have a healthy mouth; but why is this and what does it mean?
You might think that because you’ve suffered natural tooth loss that your mouth isn’t particularly healthy. However a healthy mouth doesn’t just refer to the amount of teeth you have. For example, you can have all your teeth, but might be suffering from gum disease and tooth decay. The issue is that if implants were placed into areas that show signs of periodontal (gum disease) then this could be problematic to newly paced implants.
Another problem is insufficient bone. When teeth are missing and/or gum disease takes hold, then the bone mass in the jaw can diminish. This isn’t good news for implants either because they need sufficient and healthy bone mass to be anchored into. This gives them the best chance of survival.
So does this mean that if you don’t have a healthy mouth you can’t have implants?
Absolutely not! It’s just that these problems need to be dealt with first. In the case of gum disease then the problem is usually easily rectified with a course of treatment. However for patients with insufficient bone mass, then there’s a strong chance that they’re going to need a bone graft.
A bone graft is a simple surgical procedure usually carried out at the dental practice under local anaesthetic. It involves taking bone tissue (usually from a bone bank) and transplanting it onto the affected area. Over time it merges with the existing remaining bone tissue to create one healthy bone mass. Recovery or bone fusion takes on average 12 weeks depending upon the healing capabilities of the patient. Once fully healed, then the area can be prepared for implant surgery.
To find out more about whether you’re eligible for dental implant surgery right away then contact Sheen Dental. Dr Harmit Kalsi and the team have been successfully placing dental implants in Richmond patients for numerous years, so why not book yourself a free, no-obligation consultation to find out how we can help you. To make a booking either go through our website at www.sheendentalimplants.co.uk or contact us directly on 020 8876 5277. Take control of your dental future today and do something positive!