Who Makes A Good Implant Candidate?

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kania-implant-candidateLosing one or more teeth can not only be a hit to your appearance, but can also lead to a number of serious oral health complications, from misalignment to an older appearance due to facial collapse. To avoid these complications, we may recommend receiving a dental implant. Who makes a good candidate for dental implants? What does placing one involve?

The Degree of Your Tooth Loss

How severe is your tooth loss? If you have lost an individual tooth, we can use an individual implant to address the problem. If you have several missing teeth then we may recommend using multiple implant posts to secure a prosthetic, such as a bridge or full denture.

The State of Your Smile

To obtain an accurate and detailed picture of your oral health, we will need to perform diagnostic imaging. Using digital x-rays and other technology, we will look at the factors behind your tooth loss, as well as the state of your jawbone. We can then assess your candidacy.

If you have lost jawbone tissue (which occurs when the body suspends the flow of nutrients to the jawbone surrounding a lost tooth) we may suggest a bone grafting procedure. If you have advanced periodontal disease, or periodontitis, you may need to undergo treatment to manage it. Otherwise, periodontitis can cause the new implant to fail.

How Do I Get Started?

Once you lose a tooth, don’t delay. Contact our office and schedule a visit. We will examine your smile and then discuss your options for replacing the missing tooth. Dental implants can the stimulate jawbone, preserving your facial structure. In addition, with the proper care and attention, they can potentially last a lifetime.

ABOUT YOUR ENCINITAS/SAN DIEGO, CA, LASER PERIODONTIST:

As a board-certified periodontist, Dr. Ann M. Kania is specially qualified to diagnose and treat issues concerning periodontal tissue and the supportive structures of a patient’s smile, as well as place dental implants to restore teeth lost to dental disease or trauma. Dr. Kania also offers the Pinhole® Surgical Technique (PST) for minimally-invasive, scalpel-free gum grafting. To seek Dr. Kania’s expertise, contact her office today at (760) 642-0711.