You search for the best implant surgeon, and, with regular brushing, flossing and dental hygiene visits, rightly expect your dental implants to last a lifetime.
But what other factors lead to the success of dental implants? Whether you’re considering a single-tooth implant, an implant-supported fixed bridge or denture, or a full set of dental implants (All-on-4®), you and your periodontists will want to discuss:
Gum Health If you have gum disease, it needs to be treated and we can do it. If you had gum disease in the past, you will be at a greater risk of developing it again, so we’ll be watching closely to prevent reoccurrences with our after-care periodontal maintenance visits.
Oral Maintenance Dental implants need to be cared for very much like regular teeth. You’ll need to brush and floss regularly and keep up with regular dental hygiene visits in order to help ensure the success of your dental implant(s).
Smoking This really bad habit greatly increases the risk of dental implant failure. Constricted blood vessels as a result of smoking affect the healing process of both the bone and gum around your new implant.
Jawbone Health Individuals who have had missing teeth for a prolonged period could also experience something called jawbone resorption. The healthy tooth roots of normal teeth keep the jawbone healthy. When you’re missing teeth, the jawbone can weaken and even shrink. Drs. Levine and Fava may suggest a procedure called an implant-site development using a bone graft to “build up” the jawbone.
Other Underlying Conditions Some patients with certain chronic diseases or severely compromised immune systems may not be suitable candidates for dental implant longevity. If the body doesn’t fight infection well, you could be at an increased risk of implant failure.
Drs. Philip L. Fava and Robert A. Levine offer the most clinically advanced implant technologies in the field. Rest assured we’ll do everything in our power to make sure your implants last a long, long time!