Implant candidacy

Bone, gums, health and habits. In that order.

Most adults missing a tooth can have an implant. The honest assessment is about what has to be sorted out first, and whether it is worth doing at all.

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What we check

Enough bone, in the right place

A scan measures height and width. Where there is not enough, grafting can often build it, which adds months and cost to the plan.

Healthy gums

Active gum disease will attack an implant the same way it attacks a tooth. It gets treated first, not alongside.

General health

Uncontrolled diabetes, some bone medications, head and neck radiotherapy and heavy smoking all change the odds. We will tell you where you stand.

The two honest answers nobody likes

Smoking. It roughly doubles the failure rate. We will still treat you, but you deserve to know the number before you spend the money, and stopping for the healing period genuinely helps.Sometimes the answer is no, or not yet. If the bone is not there, if the gum disease is not under control, or if a bridge would serve you better for less, we will say so. A consultation that ends in advice rather than a treatment plan is not a failure.

Questions

Asked often.

Am I too old?

No. Age on its own is not a barrier; general health and healing are what matter. We have treated patients well into their eighties.

I was told there is not enough bone.

That is often the start of the conversation rather than the end of it. Grafting, sinus lifts and narrower implants all exist. Bring the scan and we will look.

Can I have one if I grind my teeth?

Yes, but the grinding needs managing, usually with a night guard. Unmanaged, it is one of the more common reasons an implant crown fractures.

What does the assessment cost?

Call the office and ask — it depends on what imaging is needed. You will be told the figure before you book, not afterwards.