Your Oral Health & Lifestyle Can Affect Your Candidacy for Dental Implants
Although this treatment has helped millions experience a better quality of life, not everyone is a candidate for dental implants. Dr. J. Eric Herrington can use advanced technology including digital imaging to determine whether dental implants are the best way to restore your smile. As one of the only board-certified periodontists in Meridian, MS, Dr. Herrington is uniquely qualified to assess your candidacy and to perform any treatments needed to help you become eligible.
Do You Need Dental Implants?
Anyone missing one or more teeth should at least consider dental implants. While traditional bridges and dentures can close gaps in your smile and help you chew, they do not help protect against jawbone atrophy, which can cause further tooth loss. Dental implants do. Additionally, they can provide better support for your restorations, giving them a level of functionality that is virtually identical to that of natural teeth.
During your consultation, Dr. Herrington will determine whether you are a candidate for dental implants.
Factors that Affect Candidacy
There are several health and lifestyle factors that can impact your candidacy for dental implants, such as:
- Remaining Jawbone Tissue
- To properly support dental implant posts, you must have sufficient jawbone tissue. Often, jawbone recession begins shortly after tooth loss because the tooth root is no longer present to stimulate the jawbone. Dr. Herrington can perform bone grafting, which is a process of adding tissue to the jawbone following tissue recession. In many cases, this can restore your candidacy for dental implants.
- Your Sinuses
- In some cases, there is not enough space in the upper jaw to place dental implants due to jawbone recession or the shape and size of your sinuses. However, Dr. Herrington can perform a sinus lift procedure to move the sinus membrane upward and perform a bone graft. Once you have healed, your jaw will be able to accommodate an implant without disturbing the sinuses.
- Smoking
- Smoking can significantly increase your risk of complications including implant failure.
- Alcohol Consumption
- Similarly, alcohol consumption has been linked to slower healing due to its effects on the liver. Additionally, heavy drinking can increase your risk of dental implant failure due to poor osseointegration (the fusion of the implant and jawbone).
Assessing Your Candidacy
During your consultation, Dr. Herrington will determine whether you are a candidate for dental implants. He uses the latest technology to conduct an in-depth evaluation of your oral health. With exceptionally precise digital imaging, he is able to accurately examine the density of your jawbone. He can also identify any other factors that may interfere with implant treatment.
Book a Consultation
To schedule your consultation, contact us online or call us at (601) 482-6938. Dr. Herrington is invested in your health and always strives to serve your best interests. If you are a dental implants candidate, he can provide every stage of this life-changing treatment. If dental implants are not right for you, he can recommend alternative methods of restoring the health, comfort, and functionality of your smile.