“Am I actually a candidate?” tends to be the question patients get stuck on before they ever book a consultation. A few specific factors determine candidacy, and most of them are far more workable than patients assume going in.
Jawbone Health Matters Most
Enough bone volume and density to support an implant is the biggest factor. Patients who’ve lost teeth years ago sometimes have less bone than they’d expect, since the jaw naturally recedes without a tooth root providing stimulation. That doesn’t automatically rule anyone out, it just affects which treatment approach fits.
How Many Teeth You’re Replacing Changes the Picture
A single missing tooth is a very different case from needing a full arch replaced. Single implants suit patients missing one or a few teeth, while All-on-X is built for patients missing most or all of their teeth in an arch, anchoring a full replacement on as few as four implants.
Gum Health Needs to Be Under Control First
Active gum disease needs to be addressed before implants can be placed, since the same bacteria driving periodontal disease can compromise implant success. For patients dealing with more advanced gum disease, LANAP® laser treatment is often used to get gum health to a stable point before implant planning begins.
Overall Health and Lifestyle Factors
Certain health conditions and habits, smoking in particular, can affect healing and implant success rates. None of these are automatic disqualifiers, but they’re part of the full picture your provider considers.
What If You’ve Been Told No Elsewhere?
Patients are sometimes turned away for implants because of bone loss or gum disease without being told about options that could still make treatment possible. A real evaluation, rather than a quick assessment, is often what reveals that more paths are open than initially expected.
What a Real Evaluation Involves
Dr. Margarita Degtyareva, Dr. Olga Degtyareva, and Dr. Nicholas Toscano assess jawbone structure, gum health, and your specific goals before recommending any single treatment path, rather than assuming a standard case applies to everyone.
What Happens After Candidacy Is Confirmed
Once eligibility is established, treatment typically moves through consultation and planning, the procedure itself (often with same-day temporary teeth), a healing period, and your final restoration. Cost and financing are discussed in detail once your specific plan is mapped out.
Ready to Find Out Where You Stand?
Call Always Beautiful Smile in Brooklyn at (929) 673-0735 to schedule an evaluation and get a real answer on candidacy instead of guessing.
