Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Dental implants might be an excellent option for restoring your smile if you’re missing one or a few teeth. However, you should take time to consult with your dentist and be open about your health. Though dental implants have a success rate of 90-95%, many people aren’t suitable candidates for dental implants.   

Yet, depending on the reason that makes you an unsuitable candidate, you may be able to change your habits or undergo procedures to make dental implants a viable solution. If you’d like to find out whether you’re a good candidate for dental implants, get in touch with the experts at Concierge Dental Group.  

In what follows, we discuss what makes a good candidate for dental implants, why someone might be ineligible for dental implants, and what steps you can take to become a candidate for dental implants.  

Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants? 

Here, we list the 7 factors that make a good candidate for dental implants. If you don’t satisfy all the criteria, talk to your dentist about a customized treatment strategy.  

1. Healthy Gums: Your gums must be healthy enough to undergo a dental implant procedure because much of the process deals with your gums. People with gum infections, such as periodontal disease and gingivitis, would not be good candidates.  

2. Sufficient Bone Density: In addition to your gums, the procedure involves your jawbone. A strong jaw is crucial for protecting and supporting the implants. However, additional procedures can help patients suffering from bone loss become suitable candidates for dental implants.  

3. Good Oral Health and Hygiene: A good candidate does not suffer from infection or other dental issues that could cause surgery problems. As such, the candidate’s dentist must be convinced that the patient will take good care of their oral health after the procedure. Brushing and flossing daily and making routine follow-up visits are also important.  

4. Good General Health: Since the dental implant procedure is completed through multiple processes over several months, including an invasive surgical procedure, you must be in adequate physical health to undergo surgery and fully recover before your following procedure. Also, since diabetes affects the healing process, those whose diabetes is uncontrolled will be unsuitable for dental implants.  

5. Non-tobacco user: People who smoke cigarettes or otherwise use tobacco are not ideal candidates for this procedure. This is because using tobacco prevents healing in your mouth.   

6. Not a teeth-grinder: Patients who often grind their teeth and clench their jaws might not be suitable candidates for dental implants.  

7. Not on Disruptive Medications: Medications, like steroids and blood thinners, can prevent you from being a good candidate for dental implants.   

Who is Not a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?   

Poor candidates for dental implants are those who do not satisfy one or more of the above criteria. However, as you may have noticed, many of these criteria are based on habits like oral hygiene and smoking. As such, you may become a suitable candidate by changing your habits.  

Other criteria, like bone density and medications, do not involve habits. Still, there are procedures and processes which might improve your candidacy.  

How to Become a Good Candidate for Dental Implants  

• Practice Good Oral Health and Hygiene: If you have gum disease or do not practice good oral hygiene, you may become a good candidate for dental implants by following the best oral health practices for months and following your procedures. As such, you should stop using tobacco to become a good candidate for dental implants.  
• Undergo Bone Treatment Procedures: If you have a jaw bone deformity, your dentist may recommend ridge modification. This procedure involves adding bone or bone replacement to the patient’s ridge to give them the best chance of a successful dental implant. Also, if you have an insufficient amount of bone or low bone density, sinus augmentation may help fix the issue and make you a viable candidate for dental implants.  
• Improve General Health: If you have uncontrolled diabetes or are otherwise not healthy enough to undergo the procedure, you could work on improving your health. You could wait until your diabetes is controlled, change your diet and alcohol intake, and start exercising more frequently.  
• Alter Medications: If your medications prevent you from being a suitable candidate, your dentist may recommend either reducing your dosage or avoiding those medications during the procedure timeline.  
• Nightguards: If you struggle with teeth grinding or jaw clenching in your sleep, a nightguard can help prevent pressure and damage to your teeth.  

Still not sure whether you’re a good candidate for dental implants?   

If you reside in Western New York, contact the highly trained team at Concierge Dental Group today. Or schedule a free 60-minute consultation to find out what your personalized procedure might look like.