Who is a Candidate?
Vancouver, WA
 Who is a candidate for dental implants? With so many people interested in the life-changing power of dental implants, that is one of the questions we hear more than any other. So we thought that we would answer your biggest question, and explain how at Alder Dental almost everyone is or can be a candidate for dental implants.
Ideal Candidates for Dental Implants
The ideal candidate for dental implants is in good oral health. That means no active cases of gum disease or tooth decay, strong and healthy bone density, responsible oral hygiene, and not a smoker. You may already be missing the tooth or teeth to be replaced, or you may have damaged teeth that are waiting to be extracted prior to placing the implants. The ideal candidate also has time to undergo the full treatment process, which can take as long as a year. Implants take time to bond with the living bone in your mouth, often several months, and we may ask you to return to our office multiple times so we can monitor how the bonding process is developing.
Improving Your Candidacy
Just because you are not an ideal candidate now does not mean that you cannot be an ideal candidate in the future. Many of the conditions that might disqualify someone from getting dental implants can be fixed. Gum disease is a serious health risk, but there are plenty of both surgical and non-surgical treatment options available, and often a skilled periodontist can reverse even advanced gum disease. If gum disease is not caught until it has spread, it may have resulted in the loss of bone density. Bone can also be lost due to age, missing teeth, or other conditions. All of these cause problems with dental implants, which need sufficient bone density for safe placement. A bone graft treatment can usually fix this.
What if You Are Not a Candidate?
Unfortunately, the simple fact is that not everyone is a candidate for dental implants. This can happen for a number of reasons, but oftentimes we find that with a little bit of oral support, even patients that may have been told their teeth were beyond saving can be helped. Every day, dentists are learning and perfecting new treatments to improve and rehabilitate your oral health. Teeth that once might have been a lost cause can now be saved, and often even advanced gum disease can be eliminated, and its effects reversed. If the teeth do have to be extracted, also known as tooth extractions, there are still dentures and dental bridges. Many people have successfully benefitted from these options for years, and they can be cheaper and faster than implants.
Call Today to Discover if You Are a Candidate!
There is only one way to find out if you are a candidate for dental implants, and that is by coming into our office for a consultation. To schedule an appointment with one of our expert dentists here at Alder Dental, call us now at (360) 831-0831! We can set up a time for you to come in and find out if you are a good candidate.
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