Dental Implants – What are your risks for Implant Failure?
If you have lost a tooth or are at risk of losing teeth from tooth decay, gum disease or an injury to your mouth, dental implants could be an excellent replacement.
A dental implant is a small titanium post surgically placed into your jawbone which would then provide a base for a porcelain replacement tooth.
Implants provide many benefits if you have lost natural teeth. They look like natural teeth so you feel good about your appearance without having gaps in your smile or trouble talking and eating. There is no need to compromise adjacent healthy teeth by grinding them down to secure a bridge or partial denture. They can stabilize ill-fitting dentures and partials, eliminating pain and discomfort. Most importantly dental implants help to minimize loss of bone in the jaw. Without the stimulation teeth roots provide during activities like chewing, the bone does not stay active and actually starts to “melt” away. On average there is around a 25% decrease in bone width the first year after tooth loss with the height then decreasing year after year. With this bone loss the facial structure actually changes, causing it to look collapsed.
Unfortunately dental implants will not work for everyone … the ideal dental implant patient:
You may need to complete some preliminary steps before you can be considered for dental implants.
Make sure you give your dentist all of your health information when discussing if implants could be an option for replacing missing teeth. Factors such as diabetes, osteoporosis, immune system issues and teeth grinding all have to be carefully considered. Recently a study from the University of Buffalo showed a link between anti-depressant use and implant failure. A side effect from anti-depressants was a decrease in the effectiveness of the hormone responsible for bone growth and metabolism. In order for an implant to heal properly this process is essential and long term use of antidepressants could increase the risks of implant failure.
http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2016/03/020.html
There are many steps in treatment planning for lost teeth. Dr. Swenda takes a lot of care and time to make sure you are presented with the best options for your overall health. If you have any questions or concerns about possible tooth loss and making sure your oral health is in good standing for dental implants, do not hesitate to contact the office.