Okemos, Lansing, East Lansing MI
If you’re living with a missing tooth, you may experience difficulty chewing—not to mention the gap in your smile. The good news is that you can replace your lost tooth. There are several methods of restorative dentistry out there, but a dental implant is an ideal way to replace a missing tooth. Implants look and feel more like a real tooth and, once placed, can last the rest of your life with good dental hygiene. Despite their benefits, dental implants are not for everyone. That’s why Okemos’ award-winning dentist Dr. Christine Tenaglia compiled this list of five things that make someone a good candidate for implants.
-
You need to be in good oral health
Yes, you’ve lost a tooth, but what’s the current state of your oral health? In order to receive a dental implant, your teeth and gums need to be in good condition. If you’re suffering from gum disease, then the gum disease will need to be treated first before an implant can be installed. The good news is that Dr. Tenaglia can treat gum disease in Lansing and then begin the implant process once your gums and jawbone recover from treatment.
-
You need good bone density
Your jawbone needs to have the proper density to provide support for the implant. Unfortunately, deterioration of supporting bone structure is a long-term consequence of living with tooth loss, as the jawbone no longer has the continual stimulation that came from the tooth root. However, in some cases of moderate jawbone loss, a bone graft is helpful in rebuilding the bone to a level that effectively supports an implant.
-
You have good oral hygiene practices
Do you brush your teeth twice a day? Do you floss daily? Do you visit your East Lansing dentist once each six months for a check-up that includes a cleaning? If you can answer yes to these questions, you’re minimizing the amounts of plaque in your mouth and protecting yourself against possible infection during the implant procedure.
-
You don’t smoke
Implant failure is rare, but your risk of implant failure significantly increases if you are a smoker. Smoking impedes the healing process and makes you more susceptible to infection. Dr. Tenaglia has a consultation with any candidate for implants before the work begins. If you smoke, we’ll need to know how much you smoke and for how long. Before considering an implant, though, you should consider quitting smoking. It’s also better for your long-term health!
-
Patience
The entire process of receiving a dental implant is not brief. First, the implant screw itself is placed surgically in the jawbone. Then, the screw fuses with the jawbone as you heal. Each person heals differently, but you can expect this to take several months. We understand this can be frustrating, but you must be patient as your jawbone heals.
Dental implants in Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing
Implant dentistry is one of the specialties of Dr. Tenaglia. She can install an implant to replace a single missing tooth, or, for patients who are missing all or many teeth on the same dental arch, she can install implant dentures or an implant-supported bridge. Ready to learn more? The next step is to schedule a consultation at Tenaglia Smiles by calling (517) 347-6733. From there, we will find out if you are an ideal candidate for dental implants.