Dental implants can be the ideal way to replace your missing teeth, but they do require surgery and may not be the best tooth replacement option for you. Today, our Surrey dentists explain who makes a good candidate for dental implants.

Dental Implants

Dental implants can replace missing teeth and give you a natural looking smile. Implants are a permanent solution to missing teeth with a number of benefits, however implants must be surgically placed in the jaw and that can mean that they are not the best tooth replacement solution for everyone. 

Requirements for Dental Implants

In order to be a good candidate for dental implants you must have a strong, healthy jawbone and gums. If you have experienced bone loss or deterioration due to a tooth abscess, or suffer from oral health problems such as gingivitis, dental implants may not be for you. 

Bone Grafting for Dental Implants

For patients who have suffered bone loss, a bone graft may be able to strengthen the jaw to make implants possible. However, it's important to note that the bone grafting procedure does take a number of weeks to heal and the dental implants cannot be placed until the healing process is complete.

The Bone Grafting Process

When you undergo a bone graft the surgeon takes a section of bone from a different part of your body, (or uses a special bone grafting material), and grafts it onto your existing jawbone in the area where the dental implant will go. This process helps to strengthen the jaw and form a stable base to hold the dental implants. For patients wishing to have dental implants to replace top teeth, a sinus lift is a type of bone graft used on the top jaw.

Other Tooth Replacement Options

If you have suffered bone loss or bone deterioration and want to replace your missing teeth without undergoing the lengthy process of a bone graft, other tooth replacement options such as a dental bridge or dentures may be more suitable for you.

Replacing missing teeth is important for keeping your whole mouth healthy, speak to your dentist if you are interested in replacing your missing teeth. Your dentist will be able to recommend the most appropriate tooth replacement option for your smile.