Dental implants have helped thousands to reclaim the quality of life they enjoyed before losing most or all of their teeth. The numerous benefits dental implants provide are very enticing to those who wish to once again enjoy a fully functional smile, but not everyone is a suitable dental implants candidate. Depending upon your circumstances, you may require a treatment such as a bone graft or sinus lift before you are able to accommodate dental implants. Age, tobacco use, auto-immune deficiencies, diseases such as diabetes, and other circumstances can also affect your candidacy. Your dentist or oral surgeon will conduct a thorough evaluation to determine whether you are a good dental implants candidate.

A fundamental characteristic of a good dental implant candidate is sufficient jaw bone structure. When you lose a tooth, your body will eventually begin resorbing bone cells in that area of the jaw. As time passes, you may no longer have enough bone structure to accommodate an implant. In some cases, your oral surgeon may be able to perform a bone graft, transferring healthy bone (sometimes from your hip or tibia) to the treatment site that will eventually fuse to your jaw, replacing lost structure.

Smoking and heavy drinking hinders your body’s ability to heal. The complete fusion of the jaw bone to the dental implant is the cornerstone of successful dental implant placement, so these lifestyle choices can make a world of difference in determining candidacy. In some cases, you may be able to abstain from these habits for a substantial time period before and after implant surgery in order to make dental implant surgery a success. Your oral surgeon can help you determine if changing your habits can help you to become a dental implants candidate.