Understanding Qualifications for Dental Implants
How do I know if I qualify for dental implants?
You probably don't. You need to come in for a consultation. Many factors determine if you qualify for dental implants. The first step is ensuring you have enough bone. You need to come in for a 3D X-ray so we can evaluate your bone. We also need to know what medications you're taking and your medical history to ensure there are no contraindications. If you're missing teeth and interested in implants, come in. We're happy to schedule a consultation.
What if I have bone loss?
It depends on the extent. If it's really bad, we might add some bone and graft it a little. If it's extremely bad, we may need to refer you to a specialist for bone grafting. If it's not too severe, you need to come in for a consultation. There's no way to know just by looking at you. We need a 3D X-ray, a full medical history, and a workup. We're more than happy to get you in for a consultation.
Can I get implants if I smoke?
We prefer that you don't. It's a great excuse to quit because smoking significantly reduces the success rate of implants. In a healthy patient, the implant success rate is about 98%. Once you start smoking, that success rate drops to 80% at best. We definitely don't recommend smoking if you want to have great success with your dental implants.
What would disqualify you from getting dental implants?
One factor is having no bone. If there's no space and grafting isn't an option or it's an expense you can't handle, you may not qualify for dental implants. Certain medications can disqualify you, especially those affecting the bones or bone supplemental injections.
Uncontrolled diabetes is another significant factor. If your blood sugar levels are consistently in the 300s, it's a problem, and you're unlikely to have success with dental implants. We need you to come in for a consultation so we can take a 3D X-ray, evaluate your bone, and get a clear medical history before determining if you're a good candidate for implants.
Is there an age limit to getting dental implants?
Absolutely not. You can be as old as you want. If you want it, we can do it for you, as long as your medical history and bone conditions allow it. We can do implants at any age. There is an age minimum, however. We will not do implants on children. You cannot be under the age of 18. For boys, we recommend waiting until 21. We need you to stop growing before considering dental implants. So, no maximum, but there definitely is a minimum.
If you have questions, we would love to answer them for you. Please give us a call at the office at (440) 659-1455. Our staff would love to talk with you!