AM I A CANDIDATE FOR IMPLANTS?

As maxillofacial surgeons, we specialize in restorative dentistry practices like wisdom teeth removal and restorative dentistry, in addition to dental implants.

Some of the requirements you will need to meet in order to be a good candidate for receiving dental implants include the following.

YOU NEED TO BE HEALTHY

First, you need to be in good overall health. This means you need to have good oral health, of course, but it also means that your overall physical health needs to be good.

That means you need to have any chronic illnesses under control, your immune system needs to be strong, and you should not have any infections or diseases that are not being treated.

If you are suffering from any of these conditions, you will need to work to get them treated or under control before we can move forward with placing dental implants.

You also need to commit to practicing good oral hygiene if you have not been.

While we can assist you in treating gum disease and other issues, once they have been treated, you need to ensure that you remain healthy.

This means brushing twice a day and flossing once a day. You will need to start seeing us every six months for checkups and cleanings, too.

YOU SHOULD NOT BE A SMOKER

Smoking does damage to many different parts of your body, and it can affect your oral health.

The ideal candidate does not smoke. Smoking and dental implants are simply incompatible.

Smoking can cause problems with osseointegration, the process by which the implanted titanium posts fuse to your jawbone.

If you smoke less than one pack per day, your chances of opting for this surgical procedure improve.

However, if you smoke more than that amount, your healing process will be hampered and your risks of losing the implant increase.

If you are a smoker, the best option is to be willing to quit if you want to have dental implants. There are many resources available that can help you overcome this addiction.

YOU NEED TO HAVE A STRONG JAWBONE

Your jawbone must be strong enough to support dental implants. If you have lost density in your jaw due to missing teeth or other factors, we may need to build it up before we can place dental implants.

This means doing other surgical procedures such as a bone graft. A bone graft involves using bone harvested from other parts of your body, donated bone, or artificial bone to strengthen the jaw.

This bone will, over the course of several months, fuse with your jaw to become one solid piece of bone.

If you need bone grafting, it can mean delaying your dental implant surgical procedure by up to six months or more. However, it is necessary. Your new dental implants will prevent bone loss.

YOU NEED TO BE PATIENT

The dental implant process is not something that can happen overnight. In fact, if you are in need of bone grafting, it can take a year or more.

You have to be patient and understand that it will take some time to get dental implants.

However, in the end, you will have a set of durable teeth that will last you for a lifetime.

PROPER ORAL HYGIENE MAKES THE PERFECT CANDIDATE

You must be committed to constantly checking the status of your dental implants so that they can receive proper cleaning and maintenance from our professionals.

We want to avoid bacterial growth at all costs, which could consequently lead to bone loss and therefore, your implant.

WHAT IS THE THE ALL ON 4 TREATMENT CONCEPT?

The All on 4 Treatment Concept is a novel restoration treatment, allowing a patient to enjoy a complete fixed prosthesis on their upper or lower dental arch in one single surgery.

It is more affordable than traditional dental implants, as it requires fewer implants when compared to traditional dental implants.

It uses just four implants for a total fixed restoration. In the anterior part of the jaw, we will place two straight implants in the anterior part.

We will also place two implants, which are inclined up to a 45-degree angle in the posterior part of the jaw.

Bone grafting is not necessary with the All-on-4, as we are able to tilt the posterior implants into the available bone.

In turn, this reduces the need for bone grafts and allows for secure anchoring in better quality bone, making it possible to use longer implants.

In this technique, a secure and stable anchoring method is used without preparing the bone. It will only have to be grafted in some isolated cases.

At Oral Surgery Specialists of Austin, we are pleased to provide you with this excellent restoration option.

CONTACT US TODAY TO FIND OUT IF YOU ARE A CANDIDATE FOR DENTAL IMPLANTS

If you suffer from diabetes or an autoimmune disease like lupus, we will most likely have to consider another alternative for you.

Due to the difficulties in the healing process and the high rate of infection, the osseointegration process could fail and we would lose all of the effort made.

In our office, we will offer you the most appropriate options for your case.

To learn more about dental implants and to make an appointment with us to determine if you are a candidate, please do not hesitate to call us at (512) 351-7653 today!