When you feel self-conscious about your teeth, it impacts your smile. Adults with missing teeth are more susceptible to feelings of low self-esteem and are less likely to be confident in their smile. Thankfully, there are options when it comes to restoring your teeth and giving you the beautiful, healthy smile you deserve! A dental implant procedure is becoming a more popular choice for adults who may be missing teeth.

But how do you know if you’re a candidate for dental implants? Read on to discover if dental implants may be the right fit for you, and learn what steps you can take to restore your smile.

When to Consider a Dental Implant Procedure

Here’s the good news about being a candidate for dental implants. If you’re able to undergo most routine dental procedures, then you’ll likely be able to receive dental implants.

Be sure to discuss a dental implant procedure with your general dentist if you’ve experienced the following:

• Have been diagnosed with gum disease: If you lost your teeth due to gum disease or the more advanced periodontal disease, you could have a very high success rate for dental implants.
• Currently wear dentures: Dental implants are a much more stable, permanent, and preferable option than removable dentures. This is because dental implants look and function exactly like natural teeth.
• Suffer from bone loss: Dental implants can help prevent any further bone loss that may be caused by missing teeth. Bone loss can cause the facial structure to change, but dental implants can help to preserve and stabilize the facial structure.

Regardless of the reason for your tooth loss, discussing your options with your general dentist is the best way to determine if a dental implant procedure is the best path for you. Repairing your teeth goes far beyond aesthetics –– a missing tooth can impact the way you chew your food and the overall structure of your mouth. Working with your dentist to create a restoration plan is the best way to restore your teeth before more damage is done.

Lifestyle and Medical Conditions That Might Hinder a Dental Implant Procedure

While most of the general population could safely undergo a dental implant procedure, there are a few lifestyle factors and medical conditions that may need to be addressed before becoming a candidate for dental implants.

The first factor to take into consideration is your tobacco use. Using chewing tobacco or smoking cigarettes can lower the success rate of the dental implant procedure. We strongly suggest that you quit the use of tobacco products before undergoing dental implant surgery. Discuss your tobacco use with your general dentist to determine if dental implants are still a possibility for you.

The second factor that you need to consider is chronic diseases. Medical conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure don’t automatically make you ineligible for dental implants, but extra precautions may need to be taken to make sure that you can safely undergo the procedure.

Unsure of how your lifestyle choice or medical condition may impact your dental options? Consult with your dentist to discuss your unique circumstances and how they may affect your candidacy.

We believe everyone deserves a healthy, pain-free smile. There’s nothing more important to us than restoring our patients’ teeth and helping them on their journey toward a beautiful smile. Our team of skilled endodontists at Endodontic Specialists of Colorado is happy to help make this a reality! With offices conveniently located in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, quality care is just a phone call away. Contact us today to schedule your evaluation!