Dental Implants: Are You A Suitable Candidate?

When it comes to having dental implants in order to replace a lost or misshapen tooth, many people hesitate because they fear that the implant may fail. Dental implants actually have a very good success rate, although there are a number of factors that can influence their success or otherwise. So what can cause the failure of dental implants?

Here's an overview of the usual causes of dental implant failure to help you to determine whether you would be a good candidate for successful implant surgery.

Common causes of dental implant failure

Before embarking on dental implant treatment, your dentist will take a detailed medical and lifestyle history from you in order to determine whether implants would have a high chance of success. Causes of implant failure can be broadly divided into three areas:

Your general health

There are a number of health issues that can make someone an unsuitable candidate for dental implants. These factors include whether you smoke, have a history of radiation treatment or chemotherapy, and have a medical condition that could compromise your immune system. Conditions such as osteoporosis where the bones are weakened would also make you an unsuitable candidate for dental implants.  Some drugs can also make implant failure more likely; your dentist will have a full list of all these drugs.

The condition of your jaw bone

In order for dental implants to be successful the jaw bone of the recipient must be strong enough to provide a firm foundation for the implant. The dentist will evaluate your jaw bone to make sure that it is dense enough and of good enough quality to provide a stable implant site.

Another area for consideration is the strength of your bite. If you clench or grind your teeth, you may place undue strain on the implant, which could cause it to fail.

Maintenance concerns

Although implants are strong and durable, they do require correct ongoing maintenance in order to keep them in good condition. If you are an infrequent visitor to the dentist, and your teeth have not been well-maintained, the dentist may consider that your implants would fail and may be reluctant to carry out the procedure.

In conclusion

Before you can have dental implants, your dentist will need to be confident that you are a suitable candidate for the treatment. For more guidance and expert advice on whether implants are the right choice for you, have a chat with your dentist. If you can't have implants, there are plenty of other options that could be explored.

For more information about dental implants or other options, such as dentures, contact a local dental professional.