How healthy are your teeth? Although many people are quick to underestimate their dental health, the fact of the matter is that there are a lot of different elements that play into overall dental wellness. From how often you brush and floss to how regularly you attend regular checkups, it is important to stay in close communication with your dentist, especially if you come down with a new symptom. The purpose of this website is to help people to understand and resolve dental issues, since small symptoms can lead to big problems down the road. Check out these posts to learn more about dental care.
Dental implant technology is an excellent way to replace a missing tooth or an area of missing teeth. Implants can even be used as attachment points in your mouth to secure a set of dentures. Your dentist will need to know that you are healthy enough to get dental implants, as a number of conditions can make you a poor candidate for dental implants. While the surgery is small, it is still a surgical procedure that needs to heal. If you have a compromised immune system, or if you have a difficult time healing because of high blood sugar levels, your dentist will talk to you about your options for replacing missing teeth.
If You Have Diabetes
If you are a diabetic, this does not mean you are automatically prevented from getting dental implants. If your blood sugar levels are stable, you can be approved for dental implants. If your blood sugar levels have been high, your dentist will want you to get your blood sugar levels under control before you can be approved. When blood sugar levels are high, it is difficult for your body to heal. Your gums are more susceptible to infection, and the dental implants are liable to fail if your blood sugar is too high.
When You are a Smoker
The act of smoking makes it nearly impossible for dental implants to embed in place. Smoking also dries out your gums, another issue that makes it hard for your gums to heal. Poor circulation is a factor when you are a smoker, and your dentist won't allow you to get implants if you are a smoker. Once you are able to quit smoking, you can get dental implants to replace missing teeth.
Gum Disease and Dental Implants
If you have early signs of gum disease, this must be taken care of before you can get dental implants. Gum disease can cause bleeding, swollen gums, and they aren't going to heal from implant surgery if they are inflamed. Your dentist can treat you for gum disease and move forward with implants once your gums have healed sufficiently.
When you don't have a complete smile, it's time to consider dental implants. Talk to your dentist about your options. If you have high blood sugar or you are a smoker, your dentist will explain how this impacts your ability to heal from the surgery. With the right treatment, you should be able to get approval for dental implants. Contact professionals like Bradley Piotrowski, DDS, MSD, LLC, to learn more.