Request
Dental Implant Candidates - Massapequa Park, NY • Long Island
Are You a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
Pretty much everyone with missing teeth can benefit from dental implants, but there are a few certain requirements a patient must have in order for the treatment to be a viable option. What are they? And, if you’re lacking any of them, does that mean implants are permanently off the table? Below, Dr. Allan Mohr explains what all of his implant patients need to have before they begin treatment as well as what people can do if they are missing one of them.
Why Choose Dr. Allan S. Mohr for Dental Implants?
- Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists
- Thousands of Successful Start-to-Finish Cases
- Partnered with Long Island’s Best Oral Surgeons & Periodontists
1. Good Dental Health
Dental implants involve placing a small titanium post directly into the jawbone, and this is then used to support a brand new replacement tooth that shows above the gum line. Sounds pretty straightforward, right?
For someone with good dental health, the implant process usually is, but for those with outstanding dental problems, they will need to be taken care of before implants can be safely placed.
Specifically, an issue like periodontal (gum) disease can pose a particular problem for implant placement because it could potentially weaken the bone needed to support the new root over time. If a patient interested in getting dental implants does indeed have gum disease, Dr. Mohr will eliminate the infection himself before they proceed to having their new teeth placed. It’s one of the best ways to ensure the long-term success of the treatment.
2. Stable Overall Health
While dental implants surgery is very minor, it is still surgery, so a patient needs to be healthy enough to undergo it. Issues like uncontrolled diabetes or cardiovascular problems can put a patient’s health at serious risk during oral surgery, and these are complications Dr. Mohr definitely wants to avoid!
If you have an overall health issue that could interfere with your implant placement, Dr. Mohr will recommend that you visit your general doctor to make sure it’s under control before you begin the process.
3. Enough Healthy Jawbone
The reason dental implants are so stable and secure is because they are placed directly into the thick jawbone just like natural teeth. However, for someone who has been dealing with tooth loss for a long time, their jawbone may actually be quite thin and brittle, as bone loss is a very common symptom of tooth loss.
If a patient’s jawbone isn’t thick enough to firmly hold implants as is, Dr. Mohr will suggest that they get a bone graft, in which the patient’s own bone (or donated bone) is used to strengthen the area of the jawbone that is going to house the implants. To complete this procedure, he’ll refer a patient to one of his “dream team” of oral surgeons that he has worked with for many years.
How to Determine if You Are a Good Candidate
If it sounds like you meet all of these requirements, and you’re ready to get implants to replace your missing teeth, then Dr. Mohr invites you to schedule an in-person consultation. At this appointment, he’ll examine your mouth and have a chance to spot any issues that might cause complications down the road. Once he gives you the thumbs up, you can rest assured that your implant process will be smooth from beginning to end.
Schedule an Appointment Today
As we mentioned at the top of this page, implants are able to help practically anyone with missing teeth, and with Dr. Mohr, he can use them to rebuild your beautiful smile for a lifetime to come. To see if you’re a good candidate and ready to start the implant procedure, contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Candidates for Dental Implants FAQs
Dr. Mohr pays attention to every little detail when he is determining whether patient is a candidate for dental implants. But before you schedule your consultation to find out if this treatment is right for you, you might like to know more about who is a candidate and some of the preparatory procedures that might be necessary before you can receive dental implants. We address those topics in the following list of FAQs.
Can Teenagers Get Dental Implants?
A patient must have a fully developed jaw before they are eligible to receive dental implants. Therefore, most people under 17 or 18 years of age are not candidates for the procedure. If your teen is struggling with tooth loss, they may be a candidate for dental implants in a few years.
Can I Get Dental Implants if I Have Osteoporosis?
If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, be sure to include that in your medical history when you are filling out forms for our practice. Your condition will not necessarily bar you from receiving dental implants. There is even research to suggest that dental implants can protect women with osteoporosis from suffering bone death in the jaw due to bisphosphonate medications.
I Smoke Cigarettes. Will That Affect My Candidacy?
Tobacco usage is a major risk factor for gum disease and other oral health problems. It can also slow down healing after surgery and increase the risk of dental implant failure. If you smoke, your oral surgeon may strongly urge you to kick the habit at least two weeks prior to your implant placement surgery and continue to abstain until your mouth has had a chance to recover.
What Is It Like to Get a Bone Graft?
There are different types of bone grafts. If you need a minor graft, your surgeon might perform it on the same day they place your implants. If you have more extensive grafting needs, you might need to go through a healing period before you can receive implants. In some cases, a bone graft in the upper jaw also requires that the sinus be moved slightly upward (a procedure known as a sinus lift). Your surgeon will provide you with the details of your procedure before you undergo it.
Will Any of My Natural Teeth Need to Be Extracted?
In most cases, extractions are not necessary prior to dental implant placement. However, if your remaining natural teeth have suffered significant damage, Dr. Mohr may recommend that you get them removed and replace them with strong, sturdy, and long-lasting implant-supported prosthetics.
Articles about Dental Implants by Dr. Mohr
Dentistry for Seniors Preventive Dentistry Restorative Dentistry Full-Mouth Reconstruction Cosmetic Dentistry Veneers ZOOM! Teeth Whitening KOR Teeth Whitening Virtual Smile DesigningSmile Makeovers Technology & Comforts See More Dental Treatments
