Dental implants are titanium fixtures that are placed within the upper or lower jaw to support and replace missing teeth and to anchor loose dentures.
Without natural tooth roots in place to provide stimulation, the jaw bone will begin to deteriorate. Dental implants act as substitute tooth roots and provide the same function as natural roots, including stimulating and preserving the jawbone, thereby preventing the bone loss that normally occurs with the loss of teeth.
Dental implants can be placed in the mouth of any individual provided he/she fulfills certain criteria. Your Plano/Dallas implant dentist will conduct a thorough dental and medical exam to confirm that you are a candidate for dental implant surgery. Dental implants are not placed in children and are only advised after facial growth is complete.
Factors that may rule out implant surgery:
- Insufficient bone height and width
- Unhealthy gums with untreated gum disease
- Patient with history of clenching of teeth (bruxism)
- Patients with previous history of failure of dental implants
- Improper/inadequate opening of the mouth
- Pregnancy
- Severe dermatological diseases
- Malignancy (cancer)
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Hemophilia and bleeding disorders
- Epilepsy
- Impaired movement
Today with proper medication, patients with diabetes and bleeding disorders can also undergo implant surgery; therefore they are not automatically excluded.
Contact your implant dentist to determine if implants are right for you.
