Grafts May Be Necessary For You To Get A Dental Implant
If you're interested in learning whether a dental implant might be suitable for you, one of the first things to do is visit your family dentist for a consultation. This appointment gives you a chance to better understand this popular dental procedure, as well as gives the dentist an opportunity to evaluate the degree to which you're a good candidate for a dental implant. For the implant to work, you need to have a certain amount of gum tissue and bone tissue present. If these aren't present, it doesn't necessarily mean that you aren't a good candidate for an implant.
Gum And Bone Loss
If you've had a missing tooth for a significant amount of time, there's a possibility that you may have gum and bone loss in this area — both of which can initially impact your ability to be a good candidate for a dental implant. For the implant to work, the post needs to have a secure fit with your jawbone, and there needs to be enough healthy gum tissue around the area. A void in your mouth can often cause deficiencies of the gum and the bone. Poor dental hygiene can also result in gum and bone loss, and may be a contributing factor to the reason that you lost your tooth in the first place.
Grafts
Fortunately, you can usually still get a dental implant even if you've suffered a significant amount of gum and bone loss in the area in question. The solution to this problem is a gum graft and/or a bone graft. These procedures are fairly extensive, in that your dentist will need to graft gum or bone to your mouth and allow it to grow together with the existing tissue. You'll also need to return to the dental clinic for regular assessments after a graft procedure so that your dentist can check the progress of the grafts.
Preventing Future Issues
Gum loss and bone loss is common not only from missing teeth, but also from poor dental hygiene. If you're investing in your smile by getting a dental implant, you need to work on your dental hygiene to ensure that you don't lose gum tissue or experience bone loss around the implant. These can lead to the implant loosening over time, which will obviously result in complications. Your dentist can talk to you about the value of brushing and flossing around the implant, as well as continuing to have regular professional cleanings.
For more information, reach out to a dental implant service.
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