I had a dental bridge placed in my teen years. I’m now in my 40s and would like to get dental implants. I can see I’ve lost bone. Is there a way to know if I’m a good candidate for bone grafting?
Patricia
Dear Patricia,
As long as you are in good general health you should have no problem having bone grafting done. It is wise that you recognize the need for it. Without the proper amount of bone, you would end up with dental implant failure. It is imperative the bone integrates with the implant in order to secure it. This is a process known as osseointegration.
The most important thing is you choose a dentist with significant training and experience in dental implants. There isn’t a separate specialty in dental implants which would guarantee the dentist has the additional training they need. You will have to do some research to make sure. You can look at Dr. Dennis’ dental implants page to get an idea of what the procedure entails as well as her post-doctoral qualifications to help you know some of what you’re looking for.
A dentist should be perfectly fine telling you both their dental implant training as well as their success rate. If they hesitate or just say dental school, move on to another dentist. You can do better.
Thinking Big Picture with Dental Implants
You are in your 40s now. This may not be your particular situation, but many patients around that age also feel it is time to whiten their teeth. If you are entertaining those ideas the time to do it is before the porcelain crowns for your dental implants are made.
The crowns can be made to match the color of any tooth, but the color they are made will be permanent. If you choose to do teeth whitening later, that’s fine. Just be aware that the crowns won’t whiten along with your natural teeth. Instead, you’ll have to replace the crown in order for it to match.
If you are able to whiten first it will save you money in the long run.
This blog is brought to you by Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis of Portage, MI.