Dental implants are among the most sought-after restorative dentistry treatments, providing an effective solution for a variety of cases. However, gum disease is a potential complicating factor that could require intervention before you can receive dental implants. Here’s what you need to know.
Gum Disease and Dental Implant Candidacy
Gum disease is a bacterial infection of the gum tissue that advances through two forms. It starts as gingivitis, a fairly inconspicuous condition with symptoms including mild inflammation and bad breath. However, if left untreated, it progresses to a more advanced stage called periodontitis, which can seriously impact gum and even bone tissue. Without proper treatment, gum disease eventually weakens the structures that hold your natural teeth in place, leading to tooth loss.
Dental implants can provide replacement teeth, but they require strong support from your jawbone; as such, serious cases of gum disease may impact the effectiveness of dental implants. Your dentist will carefully evaluate your gums and overall health to determine whether dental implants are the right choice for you. If you’re currently experiencing inflammation, gum recession, or other signs of gum disease, addressing those issues first is key to ensuring you receive reliable dental implants.
How Gum Health Affects Dental Implant Success
Implantes dentales are an excellent option to replace lost teeth because they use the jawbone as a strong foundation. However, implant surgery can be complicated by the presence of gum disease; patients may find that their implant sites aren’t healing properly or even face serious infections.
The reason those risks arise is that gum disease causes persistent inflammation in and around gum tissue. That can impact the osseointegration process, wherein the titanium dental implants bond with the jawbone, leading to a weak hold and implant failure down the line.
Gum disease can also cause gum tissue to pull away from tooth surfaces (a condition known as gum recession), exposing the tooth roots. When the process occurs with dental implants, it can reveal the metal implant posts, which are not only unsightly but also allow bacteria to work their way underneath the implant.
Gum Disease Treatment Before Dental Implants
In the U.S., more than 2.5 million dental implants are placed each year. Many of the recipients start their journeys because they are facing oral health issues such as gum disease. There are effective treatment options to deal with gum disease and allow most patients to move forward with dental implant placement.
In minor cases of gum disease, simple changes to your oral hygiene habits can make a significant difference; your dentist may recommend changes to how you brush and floss. Deep cleaning is another potential option. Your dentist will use special tools to clean below the gum line and smooth the surface of tooth roots so bacteria can’t take hold as easily.
More advanced cases of periodontitis may call for invasive treatment options to tackle the disease and restore gum tissue. Laser gum surgery, for instance, is commonly used to reduce pocket depth and promote gum reattachment to teeth. Your individual treatment plan will depend on the extent of your gum disease, and your dentist will break down what to expect.
Dealing With Bone Loss
Advanced gum disease (as well as living with missing teeth for a long time) can lead to bone loss, causing your jawbone to not be strong or thick enough to support dental implants. However, there are treatments to deal with these concerns.
Bone grafting is one such option. It places transplanted bone material to build up the implant site. Over the course of several months, the bone will naturally reintegrate to create a strong foundation. Grafting is an additional step that makes it possible for many more people to access dental implants. However, it does extend the treatment timeline due to the additional surgery and healing.
Maintaining Healthy Gums With Dental Implants
Though receiving implants is an excellent means of restoring your smile, gum disease is still an ongoing concern after the fact. You must keep up with regular dental checkups and carefully follow oral hygiene instructions from your dentist to avoid potential infection. Peri-implantitis, the infection of a dental implant site, is a primary cause of implant failure.
In general, your oral hygiene won’t have to change too much. You’ll still need to brush twice each day and floss to maintain a healthy smile. Your dentist may also recommend an antimicrobial mouthwash.
Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Gum disease is a serious oral health concern, but it doesn’t necessarily bar you from getting dental implants. There are effective treatment options to deal with gum disease and the impact it has on your candidacy for dental implants. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Brett Langston at Dental Implant & Aesthetic Specialists to start your dental implant journey today.
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