Who's a Good Candidate for Same-Day Dental Implants?

Dental implants are typically done in 3 stages that can take 5 to 8 months to complete. However, implant technology has advanced to the point where the entire process can be done in one day. However, not everyone is a good candidate for it. Here's what you need to qualify for same-day dental implants.

Your Jaw Bone Already has Adequate Density

Dental implants come in three parts: the implant post, abutment, and crown. The implant post serves as the root of the false tooth, so it is put in the jaw bone where your body anchors it in place by forming new bone around it in a process called osseointegration.

Both traditional and same-day dental implants require your jaw bone to be thick enough to secure the post. Usually, if the bone is too thin, the dentist will do a bone graft and wait a few months for the site to grow to the right size.

However, with same-day implants, your jaw bone has to the right density from the start. If it isn't, you'll need to undergo a bone graft, which will add several months to the treatment timeline.

The dentist will tell whether your jaw is healthy enough to proceed. Additionally, if you do need a bone graft, you may be able to speed up the growth process. The dental professional can advise you on the best way to go about it.

You Don't Have a Tooth-Grinding Problem

Tooth grinding, officially known as bruxism, is a condition where a person consciously or unconsciously clenches or forcefully rubs their teeth together. In addition to causing headaches and sleep disruptions, bruxism damages your teeth, wearing them down, and causing cracks to form that eventually lead to breakage.

This condition is detrimental to all your teeth, but most especially on same-day dental implants. It takes several months for the body to grow bone around the post. Tooth grinding will cause the fragile new bone to shatter, resulting in dental implant failure.

The primary cause of bruxism is anxiety, stress, and similar negative emotions. However, it can be caused by a number of physiological illnesses too, such as Parkinson's disease, GERD, and epilepsy. It may also be an extension of a sleep disorder that activates your natural inclination to chew.

Your dentist can usually tell pretty quickly if you are suffering from this problem and can help you get it under control. Once your bruxism is resolved, then you're safe to get dental implants.

Your Healing Ability Isn't Compromised

With same-day dental implants, it's important to understand that all procedures associated with the installation of these false teeth are done on the same day. Believe it or not, that includes any tooth extractions that must be done prior to inserting the implant.

Because of this, your mouth will have a lot of healing to do. Thus, it's critical that your body is healthy enough to tackle the challenge of repairing and rebuilding the treated areas. A compromised immune system or an underlying disorder that negatively impacts your healing ability means it could take longer for your mouth to return to normal. At worse, slow healing could open a window for infection to set in, which will often lead to implant failure.

Before talking to your dentist about implants, get checked out by your doctor to make sure you are healthy enough to get them. Address any issues that can impact your healing ability, such as high blood sugar levels or circulation problems, and let your dentist know about them so they can factor that into your treatment plan.

To learn more about dental implants or to start the process of getting them, contact a local cosmetic dentist for a consultation.