Choosing Dental Implants
If you’ve lost even one tooth, the extra space in your mouth can cause serious side effects. Over time, these side effects, which include misalignment and increased wear and tear, can cause you to lose even more teeth. To prevent this long-term damage, consider having your missing teeth replaced with dental implants.
Implants can be placed by an implant dentist or periodontist. They are made of titanium so your bone will create a natural bond, ensuring they will remain stationary and, at the same time, help encourage your jawbone to continue its natural growth. Without this stimulation, the bone in your jaws atrophies over time. Implants also help maintain the proper spacing in your mouth so your other teeth won’t move into the empty places where your missing teeth use to be. This natural movement is what causes eventual misalignment and often heavy wear and tear on your remaining teeth.
Are Implants Right for Me?
If you have even one missing tooth, ask our periodontist about implant dentistry. There are some conditions and issues that could make it more difficult for dental implants to bond properly to your jawbone. If the implants don’t bond properly, they will fail. Your implants might not be able to heal properly if you:
- Are a smoker
- Have diabetes or an autoimmune disorder
- Have gum disease
- Are taking certain medications for osteoporosis
- Do not have sufficient bone mass in your jaw
In these situations, you’ll need to consult with our periodontist to see if implants are right for you, or if another tooth replacement option would be better. If your jawbone has atrophied, you might be able to have bone grafts to support your implants. If you have gum disease, our implant dentist will want to treat it before your treatment.
Contact our friendly team at the office of Dr. Crump to schedule a consultation with our specialist today!