How Does Gum Disease Affect Dental Implants?
At California Dental Group we believe there’s no question that dental implants are a great option to replace missing teeth but the unfortunate truth is that you may not be a good candidate for them if your mouth isn’t healthy enough.
Healthy gums are a requirement for dental implants
No matter how strong your jaw is, you also need to have healthy gums in order to be a candidate for dental implants. When you come to us for your consultation, one of the things we’ll look for will be the signs of gum disease, otherwise known as periodontal disease. If we discover that you do indeed have gum disease, then we’ll need to treat that first and foremost, and possibly remove infected tissues, before we can move on to your dental implants.
Many patients don’t realize that gum disease is actually one of the leading causes of tooth loss in the U.S. Your gums are a vital part of your overall oral health, yet many people simply don’t follow the basic oral health procedures they can do to keep their gums healthy – namely, brushing and flossing daily. And of course, coming to California Dental Group for regular cleanings and exams.
Do you have the symptoms of gum disease?
While we will screen you for gum disease when you come visit us, some of the symptoms you can look for at home including bleeding, swollen, sore, or tender gums. These issues can lead to pockets forming inside your gum tissue. Bacteria can grow inside that gum tissue, which then turns into plaque and then turns into tarter.
If this is the case, then your gums may start to recede from your teeth, and the disease can actually attack the bones at the root of your teeth. This is when you may start to feel your teeth loosen or even fall out. As you can imagine, if we installed dental implants into gums in this condition, they would be less than effective.
The possibility of gum disease after a dental implant
After we’ve gotten your dental implants in place, you must be sure to keep your mouth as healthy as possible. While it’s true that dental implants are an excellent way to get back the natural appearance of your smile and the function of your natural teeth, you still need to take care of your smile.
This means brushing, flossing, and coming to California Dental Group on a regular basis. You may have to do some modified flossing around your implants but we can go over those procedures with you when you visit us. One of the main options we tend to recommend is a water flosser, otherwise known as a water irrigator. It helps you better target the spaces between your gums and your dental implant.
For more information on the various ways you can restore your smile, call California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 right away! We’re here to help you feel confident in your smile again.
