Am I A Candidate for Dental Implants?

Those who are missing teeth or are in need of an extraction must fill their gap with a tooth alternative in order to prevent more complex oral health issues down the road.  For this reason, many patients turn to dental implants as their go-to option. After all, when compared with all the other choices available, implants seem to be the one that provides the most natural appearance with the greatest amount of functioning.  In order to qualify for dental implants, patients have to meet some specific criteria. This may require clearing up a few issues before moving forward with the implant procedure — or finding an alternative replacement option entirely.  Are you a candidate for dental implants? Here is a closer look at what is required. 

Do You Have Good Overall Oral Health?

Having dental implants requires you to have good oral health as you will want to reduce the risk of infection after the procedure and in the future.  A good candidate for dental implants will be free from any oral health issues.  You can still be a candidate for this procedure as long as you find healing from any underlying dental concerns first. For instance, periodontal disease, decay, and infections will need to be addressed by your dentist before getting dental implants.  What’s more, maintaining good oral hygiene is imperative for keeping up with your oral health and giving you the greatest success with your tooth alternative. This means brushing at least twice each day, flossing daily, and having a thorough dental cleaning at least every six months from your dentist. 

Do You Have Proper Bone Density?

Having proper bone density is imperative for getting dental implants. Therefore, a good candidate for this procedure will have to have a strong, dense jaw bone — and here’s why. A dental implant fuses with the jaw bone, a process known as osseointegration. This helps it to become a strong anchor for the artificial tooth. Unfortunately, if there is not enough bone, this fusion cannot take place effectively, and the implant will likely fail.  Some good news is that those who don’t have sufficient bone density can build it up with the help of a procedure known as bone grafting. 

Do You Smoke? 

It is no secret that smoking is bad for your health —- that includes your oral health, too. A patient who smokes or uses tobacco in any way may be disqualified when it comes to getting a dental implant.  Smoking can make healing more complicated and increase the risk of infection after a dental implant procedure. This can put implants at risk of failing.  Quit smoking in order to boost your chance of being able to qualify for dental implants. 

Are You A Candidate for Dental Implants? 

Are you interested in dental implants and want to find out if you are a candidate? Our team can perform a thorough oral examination to determine whether or not dental implants are right for you — or what your best option will be to replace any missing teeth.  Contact us today at

408-996-8595

to schedule an appointment.