Tips to Save a Tooth That is Knocked Out

If you are planning to have a dental implant, there are several things that you may need to consider before the surgery. Your dental surgeon will need to assess the state of your mouth before an implant restoration can be completed. Here are several questions that he or she may ask before moving forward with the procedure:

Do you smoke or chew tobacco?

People who smoke or chew tobacco are more likely to incur problems with their implant wound healing properly. Smoking lowers the amount of oxygen that is present in the blood and can also impair circulation at the site of a wound. As a result, a smoker who receives a dental implant may have problems with the healing of the wound.

This can be an issue, because the dental implant is dependent upon proper healing for the stabilization of the device. As the dental implant wound heals, the implanted screw or rod becomes increasingly stable withing the bone. In fact, the implant actually fuses with the bone of the jaw. Eventually, the implant is as secure within the mouth as the natural root of a tooth.

However, if the implant never heals properly into place, it may never stabilize. As a result, the restoration could fail, requiring the placement of a new implant. 

If you do smoke, your dentist may ask you to stop months before a planned implant surgery.

Have you ever had a failed implant?

If your dentist did not handle previous restorations that may have failed, he or she may want to discuss the nature of any prior implant failures. If the failure was at or near the site of the newly intended implantation, it could cause problems. Sometimes, the bone and surrounding soft tissues can become too damaged to accept another implant. If this occurs, alternative implantation methods may be needed.

For people who are unable to receive a traditional implant due to bone problems, miniature implants or zygomatic implants may be better options. Miniature implants require less bone for support due to their reduced size. Zygomatic implants bypass the jawbone and are implanted directly into the bone of the cheek. 

Although non-traditional implants are sized or placed differently, they still offer the same stability and restoration as their conventional counterparts.

To learn more about dental implants and the requirements for their placement, schedule a consultation with an implant dentist in your local area.