Over time, gum disease can eat away at the gums and other structures that support the stability of teeth. Eventually, gum disease will cause teeth to fall out and will deteriorate the areas of jawbone that once held those teeth in place. Dental implants are the top solution for replacing missing teeth, but severe gum disease can eventually make someone a bad candidate for dental implants. So can you still get dental implants with gum disease? Well, it depends on the severity of the damage incurred in the jawbone and gums, along with the experience and technology of the dentist you choose.
Gum Disease Treatment
If you have severe gum disease, you’ll need to work with your dentist to regain control over your oral health before having your dental implants placed.
Here a look at some of the many solutions for severe gum disease a dentist may recommend to help prepare you for dental implants:
A deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) – this combination of procedures seeks to reduce or eliminate bacterial pockets that develop between the teeth and gums. A deep cleaning entails going below the gum line to remove tartar from the roots of teeth. From there, the roots are smoothed so that the gums reattach uniformly.
Osseous surgery – similar to a deep cleaning, this procedure targets tartar and decay beneath the gum line. Taking a deep cleaning a step further, osseous surgery also entails reshaping the bone that supports the jaw bone underneath the gums. It also entails regenerating bone lost to decay.
Periodontal maintenance – when one deep cleaning isn’t enough to get your oral health back on track, your dentist may recommend a series of them. This is known as periodontal maintenance.
Considerations
Once gum disease progresses from gingivitis to periodontitis, there’s no going back. You’ll need to diligently clean your teeth, tongue and gums every day to prevent gum disease from overrunning your mouth again.
After you’ve received your dental implants, it’s imperative that you check in with your dentist several times a year to ensure that gum disease doesn’t threaten your new teeth.
More on Dental Implants in San Fernando, CA
Reserve an appointment with a local dentist to learn more about your options for getting dental implants in San Fernando, CA and Van Nuys, CA.