At A Street Dental, dental implants are one of Dr. Blake Anderson’s specialties. With a dental implant, you can permanently restore one or more missing teeth. But if you’re missing one or more teeth due to gum disease, you may be wondering if you’re a good candidate for dental implants.
So, can you get dental implants if you have gum disease? The short answer is “yes,” but only after you get proper periodontal care to halt the progression of your gum disease. Get all the information you need below.
You Can’t Get Dental Implants If You Have Untreated Gum Disease – Here’s Why!
If you have not received proper treatment for your gum disease, you are not a good candidate for dental implants. Untreated, uncontrolled gum disease can cause serious damage to your gum tissue and your jaw bone.
This is what leads to tooth loss in patients who have gum disease. The gum and jaw tissue around the tooth breaks down, and the tooth begins to loosen. If it doesn’t fall out on its own, it may require extraction.
Dental implants require healthy, strong gum and jaw tissue. They are placed directly into your jaw bone. So if your bone is not healthy or strong enough to support your implant, you will not qualify for treatment.
If you have untreated gum disease, this also means you have lots of bacteria in your mouth and your gums. If you were to get oral surgery, such as dental implant surgery, this would dramatically raise your risk of developing an infection after surgery. That’s another reason that you can’t get implants if you have untreated gum disease.
Some Patients May Qualify For Dental Implants After Gum Disease Treatment
If your gum disease has advanced past the initial stage (known as “gingivitis”), it can never be fully eliminated. However, with proper periodontal care, such as deep cleanings and gum flap surgery, Dr. Anderson can halt the progression of gum disease, and stop further damage to your gums and jaw bone.
In addition, our Grants Pass dentist can use procedures like gum grafting to restore receding gums, and bone grafting to strengthen your jaw bone in preparation for dental implants. This means that, in some cases, you may qualify for dental implants even if you’ve had gum disease. To learn more and see if you’re a good candidate, you should schedule a consultation with Dr. Anderson at A Street Dental.
Proper Gum Care Is Essential, Even After Dental Implant Treatment
Even after you’ve replaced your missing teeth with dental implants, you’ll need to continue getting specialized gum disease care from Dr. Anderson and our team. It’s entirely possible for your gum disease to come back and reinfect your gums if you don’t get proper care.
If this happens, you may experience further damage to your gums and jaw. The area around your dental implants may even become infected, which is a condition known as “peri-implantitis.” So make sure you’re caring for your mouth properly, and come back to A Street Dental regularly for the periodontal care you need to keep your gum disease under control.
Interested In Dental Implants Or Gum Disease Treatment? Contact A Street Dental Today!
Whether you have gum disease and need treatment, you’re interested in dental implants, or both, Dr. Blake Anderson and the team at A Street Dental are here to help you get the treatment you need in Grants Pass. Don’t wait. Contact us online today, or give us a call at (541) 476-9792 to schedule a consultation with our dental implants specialist in Grants Pass. We’re always accepting new patients in Grants Pass and the surrounding areas.
