The Best Candidates for Dental Implants

The Best Candidates for Dental Implants

Dental implants are safe and highly successful replacements for tooth roots which provide a stable, comfortable, and predictable alternative to traditional dentures and bridges. They have become a very popular choice for tooth replacement, and we take pride in offering dental implant services at Lipkowitz Dental Associates. Although they are a great choice, they may not be the right fit for every patient. Dr. Rob sat down to answer questions and discuss the best candidates for dental implants. 

Is there a particular group that you’re noticing needs implants? 

There’s a broad range of people who need dental implants. Typically in my practice, I’m replacing teeth with implants in people between the ages of 40 and 80. 

What makes someone a good candidate for dental implants? 

Well, good general health makes someone a good candidate. Aside from that, a good candidate will have a desire to replace missing teeth with something permanent. 

Are there any health conditions or lifestyle factors that might affect someone’s eligibility for dental implants?

One of the things that really decreases the success rate of implants is cigarette smoking, so I really discourage patients or smokers from having treatment before they quit smoking. 

I usually try to have them quit smoking for 90 days before treatment because the nicotine in cigarettes significantly cuts down on the blood flow to the area where healing is occurring. So, instead of a 95% success rate for implants, it’s more like a 75% success rate for cigarette smokers. 

How can dental implants improve the quality of life for someone in their sixties, seventies, or eighties? 

People who are in their sixties, seventies, and eighties, have been using their teeth for a long time and things happen. People get a disease that causes the loss of teeth, sometimes trauma causes the loss of teeth, and sometimes a tooth has been filled so many times that it breaks and cracks and has to be removed. In situations like that, we can put implants in instead of things like bridges which affect the other teeth as well as the missing teeth, and get a permanent solution. It literally restores a person’s ability to chew just as they had their original teeth. 

The other thing is that if patients have had dentures for a long time, they’re great candidates for implants. Sometimes if they have dentures that are not stable, we can just stabilize their denture with a couple of dental implants, and then other times they want to have their mouths completely restored. We can do that – we can build an entire arch of teeth on 6 to 8 implants. 

How do dental implants compare to other dental solutions in terms of long-term benefits and maintenance? 

Dental implants are not maintenance-free. You can get gum disease around implants just as you can around teeth, so it’s extremely important to keep things clean when you have dental implants. Aside from that, I think they’re far superior to either removable denture solutions to replacing teeth or even replacing teeth with bridges which affect the other teeth. You have to shave down adjacent teeth to put bridges on so that they have something to support the missing teeth. The longevity of implants as compared to traditional crowns and bridges is also far superior. They last much, much longer on average than a bridge will last. 

If someone is considering dental implants, what steps should they take next? 

Well, they should come and see me for a consult! Let’s find out if you’re healthy, if you have any medical conditions that might be contrary to having implants placed, and if you have sufficient bone to place the implants. 

Are you ready to see if dental implants are the right choice for you and your smile? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Rob to discuss your goals and begin your journey towards a healthy, confident smile.

Tips to a Healthier You

Lipkowitz Dental Associates Gloucester MA

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