Dental Health Magazine Dental Health Magazine Issue 8 | Page 25

Issue #8, December 2017
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Who can have
an implant?
Dental implant is safe and suitable for almost
anyone who has lost one or more teeth and
would like to restore their appearance or chewing
function. However, dental implant is not used in
patients younger than 18 years of age due to their
ongoing growth and bone maturation process.
To be a candidate for dental implant treatment,
your mouth must be in a healthy condition, with
no untreated tooth decay or active periodontal
(gum) disease. If implants are fitted in the
presence of active gum disease, there is high risk
that an infection will develop around the dental
implant that can lead to its failure and loss. Your
implant dentist will need to improve your plaque
control ability before treatment can be offered,
because the long-term success of dental implant
depends on good oral hygiene. After treatment
is completed, you must attend regular follow-
up and cleaning session every 4-6 months with
your implant dentist; so that your oral hygiene
can be maintained at healthy level to prevent any
complications and to preserve the longevity of the
implant.
If you meet all the criteria for implants above,
your implant dentist will be confident to discuss
the various treatment options that are available,
which will take into account some of your personal
factors such as your general health, the number
and position of missing teeth, and the quantity
and quality of your bone tissue.
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