When you receive dental implants to replace one or more lost teeth, the implant posts and your natural jawbone structure surrounding it do most of the work. As the bone structure heals, it fuses to the biocompatible implant posts. When this process is complete, the implant posts take on the brunt of your bite’s pressure, supporting your dental restoration and stimulating your jawbone from that point forward. The biocompatibility of dental implants and their success in integrating with your dental ridge makes them the ideal solution in most cases of tooth loss. However, for them to be successful, you may need to prepare your oral health and structures to receive them by addressing one or more existing concerns.
Resolving the initial oral health concern
The most pressing concern with most cases of tooth loss involve the specific cause behind the loss. This cause can differ between patients, but often, it’s the result of a progressive oral health concerns, such as periodontal disease. Because of this, it’s often important to address the underlying condition that caused your tooth loss with appropriate treatment before replacing your teeth. Otherwise, the same condition will continue to impact your oral health, increasing your risks of experiencing further tooth loss and of the condition impacting your efforts at rebuilding your smile.
Dealing with any additional dental or bite problems
The specific oral health problem that led to your tooth loss may not be the only problem with your oral health that needs addressing. For example, even if they didn’t contribute to your tooth loss, conditions such as tooth decay in another tooth, or a chronic habit of grinding your teeth, can also pose a risk to your dental implant restoration after it’s been placed. Before planning your implant treatment, your dentist will thoroughly examine and assess your smile to determine if you can benefit from treatment to restore your good oral health and bite function.
Improving your hygiene and preventive care routines
Dealing with existing oral health concerns is an important way to prepare for dental implants. However, the initial causes of tooth loss are often allowed to develop because of inconsistent or inadequate dental hygiene and preventive care practices. Prepare to receive and preserve your lifelike dental implant restoration by working with your dentist to improve your preventive dental health care routines at home and at the dentist’s office. This will significantly improve your chances of enjoying your healthy, full smile longer.
Learn how you can prepare for dental implants
Depending on your specific oral health needs, you may need to prepare your smile before you can successfully receive dental implants to replace your lost teeth. To learn more, schedule an appointment with us by calling Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS, today at 913-681-5500. We also serve patients who live in Overland Park and all surrounding communities.
