Why an Initial Consultation is Important
Your initial consultation is critical to the overall plan and success of your tooth replacement treatment. This examination allows your Dr. Foleck to make a careful and detailed plan to improve your oral health and increases the chance for overall satisfaction with your treatment. More specifically, your initial evaluation includes a comprehensive examination of your mouth and a thorough review of your dental history. X-rays may also be taken to allow for a more complete view of your bone tissues, nerves, and the placement of your sinuses.
After the complete measurements of your mouth have been taken, you can talk about your procedure, the costs, and any complications that could happen after your procedure. In the end, we will work with you to develop a treatment plan that is best suited for your unique needs and preferences.
Good Candidates for Dental Implants
- Have good jawbone density
- Have good overall health
- Have satisfactory oral health
- Are willing to commit to practicing good oral hygiene
- Are willing to follow Dr. Foleck’s orders before, during, and after surgery.
Why is Good Overall Health Important for Dental Implant Patients?
For patients considering oral surgery, overall health should be a critical concern. The primary reason for this is that problems like uncontrolled diabetes, smoking, cancer, alcoholism, or gum disease can make it harder for your dental implant to fuse with your jawbone. This means that additional steps may be required before, during, or after your dental implant placement. This also means that it is very important for you to let your dental doctor know about your medical history, any prescription medications you are currently taking, and any other health concerns that you currently have or anticipate having in the future. Once they have this information, your dental implants team can appropriately plan for your treatment and its ultimate success.
What Factors Make Some Patients Ineligible?
If you have some characteristics that you are concerned about you should know that most doctors do not immediately disqualify patients for dental implants if they have one of these factors. What typically happens is more analysis and some specific conversation with the patient about additional risks. Here are some of the most common characteristics that would require additional patient examination and discussion:
- Young patients because their jawbones have not stopped growing.
- Pregnant women because their bone tissues could be impacted from their pregnancy.
- Patients who use tobacco products because they inhibit proper healing.
- Patients who abuse substances because this can also inhibit healing.
- Patients with uncontrolled diabetes because healthy tissue renewal is impacted.
- Hemophiliacs and patients that suffer from connective-tissue diseases because healing is more difficult.
- Patients with immune system deficiencies or a suppressed immune system because proper healing is prohibited.
- Patients who severely grind or clench their teeth because bone fusion with the implant may not happen properly.
What if I am Not a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
If you are a less preferred candidate, you probably want to know if this prevents you from getting dental implants. The answer to this is no. If you happen to have one of the characteristics listed above, it simply means that patients will need further evaluation and possible supplemental procedures to prepare for successful oral surgery. So if you are contemplating dental implants as a solution for your dental woes, put yourself in the best position for success by practicing good oral hygiene, avoiding tobacco products, abstaining from heavy alcohol use, and scheduling a comprehensive evaluation with Dr. Foleck as soon as possible.
See the Dental Implant Providers at The Foleck Center
A wonderfully high success rate and many outstanding benefits have made dental implants the right tooth replacement option for many of our Norfolk and Hampton, VA patients. However, in the end, your dental implants provider will be the one to help decide the right plan for you after a comprehensive examination. If you are not a good candidate right now, there is no need to worry. This simply means that further review of your condition, goals, and anatomy may be needed before we can schedule your dental implant procedure. If you have further questions, contact the implant providers at The Foleck Center.
