What Are the Risk Factors Associated With Dental Implants?

While dental implants can restore anyone’s smile and prevent further harm to your oral health, many patients have concerns about the risk factors that may occur. The dentists at Made Ya Smile Dental of Houston, TX want you to understand what you can expect with dental implants and what might happen following a procedure.

Here are a few of the most prominent risk factors that will affect the implants.

Smoking

Patients who smoke are less likely to benefit from dental implants, as smoking reduces blood flow to the gums and hinders the healing process. The Journal of the International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry states that smokers experience a dental implant failure rate ranging from 6.5% to 20% over nonsmokers. Smoking can trigger tissue damage in the gums while the nicotine, hydrogen cyanide, and carbon monoxide in many tobacco products increase the risk of the dental implant failing to perform as intended.

Age

Studies suggest that patients who are at least 60 years old are more likely to experience dental implant failure than younger people. Our team approach at Made Ya Smile Dental recommends you consult us for help with dental implants soon to boost the likelihood that your implant will work.

Diabetes

The International Journal of Oral Maxillofacial Implants also says that patients with diabetes have an increased risk of rejecting dental implants. Nerve damages triggered by diabetes can impact how well the body can handle implants like these.

Lack of a jaw bone

You will require some jawbone structure to get your dental implant to work well. The implant will enter the bone structure and integrate with the tissue to ensure the implant stays in place while preventing further bone loss that could harm other healthy teeth. Our dentists won’t be able to apply an implant in a targeted area if it doesn’t have enough bone structure, so a bone graft may be necessary.

Gum disease

Gum disease is another threat that keeps implants from working. Plaque and tartar can enter the gums and produce gingivitis and periodontitis, reducing the potential for an implant to work. Proper treatment is necessary for clearing the bacteria in the gums, as the implant will fail if the area is too weak from prior bacteria.

Certain medications

Some medications could impact how well your teeth can respond to implants. Heartburn medications could impair bone growth, while antidepressants can also inhibit bone recovery. Osteoporosis can also develop from some medications, thus further harming how well bones can grow and how their structures can remain intact.

Consult us for help with your dental implants.

A dental implant will be more successful if you have a talented dentist on hand to support the installation procedure. You can trust our dentists at Made Ya Smile Dental of Houston if you’re looking for someone you can trust for your implants. Our family dentistry office uses the most advanced dental technology to find where an implant should go and how we can treat the area. You can contact us at one of our many locations in the Greater Houston area to schedule an appointment for service.