Have you considered finding the best oral surgeon in the Southlake, TX area to place your dental implants? Congratulations! When you have a missing tooth, a dental implant can provide a stable, lifelike replacement for decades with proper care.
Although many individuals are immediate candidates for dental implant placement, you may be told by Dr. Chris Tye at your initial consultation that you must first address some issues. This does not necessarily mean you can never receive dental implants. It just means you need to reduce or eliminate the barriers to your candidacy for this time-tested procedure.
Barrier #1: Untreated gum disease
Do you have chronic bad breath? Red, swollen gums? Bleeding gums? These are signs of untreated gingivitis or periodontitis. Dr. Tye cannot safely place dental implants until your gum disease is controlled. Otherwise, you could be at risk of peri-implantitis, an infection that can lead to dental implant failure.
After your gum disease is controlled, you can once again come to our office to talk about the possibility of moving forward with dental implant placement.
Barrier #2: Low bone density
During your initial examination at our world-class practice, Dr. Tye will evaluate the strength and density of your jawbone. If he believes that it is not strong enough to offer support for a dental implant, he may recommend a bone graft.
Bone grafts use bone from another part of your body or from a donor source. The donated material is surgically deposited throughout the area of low bone density. In about four months, the site should be ready for dental implant placement as long as the new bone material has fused properly.
Barrier #3: Low historic compliance levels
Are you known for scheduling dental appointments, only to cancel them or no-show? You may not be a good candidate for dental implants. To receive the best oral surgeon care, you must be an active participant in the dental implant process. This includes staying up-to-date with all your visits.
The best way to reverse this barrier to dental implant placement candidacy is to start setting and keeping dental appointments. Show your oral surgeon that you are ready to take your health seriously.
Barrier #4: Cancer treatments
If you are receiving radiation treatments in response to a cancer diagnosis, you are usually not a good candidate for dental implants. Radiation is particularly a concern if you are receiving it around the face or neck.
After you finish your cancer treatments, discuss dental implants with both your oral surgeon in Southlake, TX and your oncologist. Moving forward with any type of surgery after cancer treatments should ideally involve a partnership between your active healthcare partners.
Barrier #5: Tobacco use
While smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco does not mean that you cannot receive dental implants, the amount of tobacco you use daily may be a concern for an oral surgeon. The wisest way to make sure you overcome this barrier to receiving dental implants is to cut back or quit. An added bonus to taking that step is you will be much healthier from a holistic perspective. Plus, you will lower your risk of gum disease, oral cancer, and further tooth loss.
Find the Best Oral Surgeon in Southlake, TX
Do you want to talk about dental implant placement for one or more teeth? Call our practice at (817) 552-3223 to schedule a consultation. In the meantime, take good at-home care of your teeth and gums as part of a comprehensive dental care routine.
