There are few, if any, contraindications to getting dental implants. This is why the risk for implant failure is exceedingly low; however, some people may have risk factors or preexisting conditions that may make them poor candidates for all types of surgery, including implant surgery. Here are some reasons for poor oral health and what you can do about them so that your gums and jawbones can become healthy enough for dental implant surgery.
Circulatory Problems
If you have diabetes, you may have impaired blood circulation. While diabetics most often notice problems with circulation in their lower extremities, they may also notice unhealthy changes in their mouths. Poor circulation can affect your gums and blood supply to the bones that support your teeth.
To prepare your mouth for successful implant surgery, be sure to see your primary care physician or endocrinologist regularly for checkups. In addition, take all your prescribed medications, follow your diabetic diet, maintain your weight, and don't smoke.
When blood glucose levels are tightly controlled, optimal blood supply may be reestablished inside the mouth. When blood flow to your gums is impaired by diabetes or smoking, you may be more likely to have an unfavorable outcome after getting your dental implants or undergoing other types of surgery.
Periodontal Disease
If you have a periodontal disease such as periodontitis, then you will need to have it treated prior to your implant procedure. It is essential that the bones inside your mouth be healthy enough to accommodate the titanium rods of the implants.
If the rods are implanted into unhealthy or weak bones, they may not fuse properly. While your general dentist can effectively treat periodontal disease, he or she may refer you to a periodontist for further evaluation.
If may take weeks to months before your gums and the underlying bones are healthy enough to support your implants; however, with regular visits to your dentist and proper oral hygiene care, you may recover sooner. If you have periodontal disease, your dentist may simply recommend conservative treatments; however, if you have extensive gingival damage, he or she may recommend that you have gum surgery.
If you would like to get implants but have circulation problems, diabetes, or periodontal disease, work with both your primary care physician and your dentist. Once these conditions are stable, and when your dentist determines that your mouth is healthy enough, you can then begin your implant treatment.
Our oral surgery and general dental website offers important information on how to prevent dry socket following a tooth extraction. After getting your tooth pulled, a protective blood clot develops over the extraction site. Many of our blog posts explain how this protective clot helps promote healing after an extraction.
You'll learn that if the clot is accidentally dislodged, dry socket may occur, which can raise your risk for infection and heavy bleeding. We'll provide you with important tips on how to prevent this by avoiding smoking and drinking through a straw. You'll also learn that swishing water around your mouth should be avoided for a couple of days following your extraction because doing so creates a suction that may dislodge your clot, leading to dry socket.