Do you have missing teeth? Are you considering your options to restore one or more missing teeth? If you have worn dentures for years or have a newly lost tooth, you need a dental restoration that properly restores the look and feel of your smile. We often recommend dental implants for patients with single missing teeth, rows of missing teeth, and full arches of missing teeth in our Arlington Heights, IL office. Patients can receive implants if they currently wear traditional dental bridges or dentures and want a more functional dental restoration.
Am I A Candidate for Dental Implants in Arlington Heights, IL?
It’s important to know the qualifications for implant treatment before considering single implant crowns, bridges, and dentures. Good candidates for dental implant treatment:
Have Missing Teeth
Dental implants can replace one or more lost teeth. Whether you’ve lost a tooth due to a dental injury or tooth decay, we can use dental implants to restore your teeth. Dental implants can secure single dental crowns or support dental bridges and dentures.
Have Sufficient Jawbone
We place titanium implant posts or anchors into the bone beneath the gums during dental implant surgery. If you have lost some jaw bone, we will recommend bone grafting treatment. Bone grafting is a procedure that places healthy jaw bone tissue where needed. Grafting ensures that your dental implants have enough support to stay in place.
If you have had a lost tooth or worn a dental bridge or denture for a long time, you may have lost natural bone tissue. Grafting will help prepare you for your new restoration.
Have Healthy Gum Tissue
During implant treatment, we need to access the jaw bone through the gums. Patients with infected gums need treatment before we suggest dental implants or restorative treatment. Gum grafting can benefit patients who require more healthy gum tissue. Once the gums heal, we can begin implant treatment.
Are In Good Oral Health
Before implant treatment, we will ensure that you are in good oral health. We will address problems like cavities and gum disease before we place dental implants. Infections impact the supporting structures surrounding implants, from natural teeth to gum tissue. As a result, if patients are not fully healthy, their implants can fail to heal properly.
Do Not Use Tobacco Products
We will also tell patients to stop smoking or using tobacco products during the implant process. Nicotine restricts the blood vessels, slowing down the healing process. Dental implants can fail if you use tobacco products. As nicotine continues to restrict the blood vessels, it takes longer for the implants to integrate with the jaw bone. Your implants can potentially loosen or fall out of your mouth if you use tobacco products after implant surgery.
Are you interested in dental implant treatment? Contact AH Smiles for treatment today at (847) 230-9703. You can also schedule a dental implant consultation with Dr. Brent Engelberg on our website. Let our office know if you have questions about your qualifications or implant options. We’re here to help you.