For many people interested in getting dental implants, it’s gum disease that started it all and caused the need for implants in the first place. Once gum disease progresses to its advanced stage, “periodontitis,” it begins to do irreversible damage to the teeth and gums. Eventually, teeth will rot and fall out, necessitating the need for dental implants. Yet, you can still be a strong candidate for dental implants despite having periodontitis.
Getting Gum Disease Under Control
If, hypothetically, gum disease was left untreated before your dental implant placement surgery, it’d continue to rage on after your implants have been placed. It’d threaten the success of your implants from the start, creating infections that caused the implants to fail to heal properly.
If you have untreated gum disease, your dentist will start there before moving on to dental implants. After you’ve received gum disease treatment, you still. may not be quite ready for dental implants. You may need another procedure or two rebuild areas damaged by periodontitis.
Solutions for Dental Implants with Periodontitis
Among its many perils, periodontitis can the teeth, gums and jawbone underneath to deteriorate. However, the following procedures can help improve your candidacy for dental implants and to drastically improve your chances of long-term success:
Bone grafting – when the mass or density of the jawbone under your gums has deteriorated too much, a bone graft can help regenerate bone in the area to provide a reliable foundation for dental implants.
Gum grafting – if the gums have receded too much, it may be necessary to graft new gum tissue into the area to help cover the implant posts.
Tooth extractions – remaining teeth will likely need to be pulled. Loose and decaying teeth won’t just stand in the way of new dental implants, they could harbor an infection that could cause your dental implants to fail. Essentially, removing failed teeth will help improve your oral health overall.
More on Dental Implants in North Hills, CA
Take a moment to schedule an appointment with a dentist to learn more about what you’ll need to do to get dental implants in North Hills, CA and Van Nuys, CA.