Our doctors at SF Oral Surgery are committed to providing patients with the best techniques and technologies available to the field of implant dentistry. Their goal is to provide treatment plans that meet the specific needs of each San Francisco patient who walks through their door! If you’re looking for a team of professionals dedicated to providing you with improved oral health and an aesthetically pleasing smile, our doctors can help!
When meeting with potential San Francisco patients, our doctors always screen them for eligibility for their desired procedure. Dental implants are no exception. To find out more about the requirements to have dental implants placed, keep reading.
Good Candidates For Dental Implants
While the only way to know for sure if you are a good candidate for dental implants is to visit our San Francisco office for a one-on-one consultation, we do have some questions you can consider to help you better understand who qualifies for this procedure.
Do you need any pre-surgeries?
Before you will be cleared to have dental implants placed, our doctors will determine whether or not you need any pre-surgeries. If you have experienced severe gum disease, or if you’ve had missing teeth for an extended period of time, it is possible that you will require procedures to prepare your mouth for dental implants.
• Gum graft
As we mentioned, if you have or have experienced gum disease, chances are you have receding gums. During your initial examination, our doctors will evaluate your gums to determine if they are healthy enough for dental implants. If not, they will perform a gum graft to strengthen and heal your gum line. This will delay your implant procedure, as your gums will be required to fully heal prior to placement.
• Bone graft
San Francisco patients who have had missing teeth for an extended period of time may require a bone graft to restore lost bone tissue. You see, when you lose a tooth, your jawbone is no longer stimulated by your natural tooth roots. And without stimulation, the jawbone gradually deteriorates. If you require a bone graft prior to the placement of dental implants, your jawbone will need to heal before our doctors can place your implants.
• Sinus lift
Another possible pre-surgery that could be needed before you’re deemed a good candidate for dental implants is a sinus lift. This only applies to implants on the top arch of your mouth. If, after examination, our doctors determine that dental implants will invade your sinus cavity, they will require you to have a sinus lift before placing your dental implants. This will protect your sinus cavity and ensure your implants have a strong foundation.
Are you a smoker?
While being a smoker will not necessarily disqualify you from having dental implants placed, it is detrimental to the procedure – both during your surgery and your recovery. Smoking and using other tobacco products not only discolors your teeth, but it also leads to gum disease and other oral compilations. Before our doctors will place dental implants, San Francisco patients must agree to stop smoking at least 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after their procedure. This will keep you safe during your surgery, and help your recovery go more quickly.
Have you provided our doctors with your entire medical and dental health history?
All of our dental implants patients are required to provide our doctors with their entire medical and dental health history prior to surgery. This information is vital to your safety and the effectiveness of your procedure.
Choose The Team At SF Oral Surgery For Your Dental Implants Procedure
When you visit our doctors in San Francisco, they will carefully examine your teeth, answer all of your questions, and determine whether you are a good candidate for dental implants, or if you need to have any pre-surgeries prior to placement.
If you’re ready to learn more and find out if you’re a good candidate for dental implants, call our office today at (415) 776-6710!
