Tooth loss can be hard on a person, and coming to terms with having to find some type of replacement system can be a real struggle. However, that’s very fair enough. No one should have to feel self-conscious or uncomfortable in their skin, especially when there are ways of fixing the main issues. 

Dental implants Hertfordshire are becoming more and more popular as a tooth replacement system; the process is becoming far more accessible and cost-effective, which is a fantastic thing as implants are the only tooth-replacement system that encourages bone growth. But to have dental implants fitted, you need to be a suitable candidate. In all circumstances, it’s recommended you visit your dentist to get their advice on whether they believe you are able to have the procedure done. But there is a basic outline of what criteria must be met to be suitable and what the contributing factors to this are. 

Jaw and gum health

The jaw and gums play a pretty important role in whether or not dental implants will be a success. Dental implants are essentially titanium roots that connect to false teeth. It’s vital that the titanium root stays in place, and for this to happen, the bone must grow back around the anchor and hold it in place. If the jawbone isn’t dense enough, this process won’t happen and the implant won’t stay in place. In some cases, it can be possible for the dentist to perform a bone graft, which will make the procedure more viable. 

The gums are important as they create a protective layer of support for the implant and the base layer for the false tooth to fit on. If you are suffering from gum disease that has resulted in gum degradation, this could be a problem for the fitting of the implants. You would have to treat all your gum disease before the procedure could be performed and make sure that you aren’t going to neglect your gums as this could cause future gum disease. 

Facial structure and ageing

As implants need a solid foundation and any change to the shape of the facial structure or jaw could cause issues for the success of the dental implants, most dentists would refuse to offer this system to anyone under the age of 18. Of course, from case to case, this could differ, but this is the general rule of thumb. 

Luckily, there does not really tend to be an upper age limit; however, dental implants can be a big procedure, so if someone is aged 80 or over, it might be that the process will be a little too much for the patients. Therefore, dentists could offer other forms of teeth replacement.

Medication
There are types of medication that dental implants just do not work well with. Some medicines give patients side effects, which can affect the success of the implantation. There is also the risk that medications can interfere with the success of the anaesthesia administered for the procedure to be carried out.