Oral Concerns That Must Be Treated Before Dental Implantation

If you have generally poor oral heal and have lost a tooth or two, then your dentist may be urging you to look at options for restoration. This is often necessary to advance your present health and to encourage future health as well. Dental implants are optional, but there are a few different oral concerns that may need to be identified and treated first. Keep reading to learn what they are and why they should be addressed. 

Gum Disease

Active gum disease and periodontal disease can keep you from getting a dental implant. The biggest concern with these illnesses has to do with the increased bacterial activity along the gums and the possibility of developing an infection after an invasive oral procedure like dental implantation. Additionally, the gum infections can place you at risk of forming peri-implantitis down the road. And, this sort of infection will often result in a loose or failed implant. 

Gum disease also will cause the dental arch to wear away as you age. This is due to bacterial activity and inflammation. Specifically, inflamed tissues can reduce the blood flow to the jaw and this can cause some cell death across the arch. 

So, you will need to have your gum disease treated before implant surgery. And your dental professional may want to see healthy gums for up to six months before the operation is scheduled.

Gum disease can be treated in several different ways. You may need deep cleanings, root scaling, and antimicrobial rinses. If gum recession is an issue, then you may also need some graft procedures to thicken the gums and ensure the dental roots are completely covered. 

Tooth Infections

While your dentist will be mostly concerned with the empty tooth socket and the anatomy surrounding the area, your dentist will also need to make sure that the rest of your teeth are healthy. For example, all tooth infections and cavities will be identified and treated. Dental infections are especially problematic because the infectious pus and bacteria are likely to spread over time. If they spread to the bone, then this can lead to a reduced thickness and a bone infection. 

Keep in mind that infections must be treated even if they are not symptomatic. Silent infections can be just as dangerous as the painful ones. This often means that the nerve has been destroyed or damaged in some way and you may not be alerted to a much more aggressive infection until it spreads.

Infections are treated through root canal treatments in most cases and cavities are removed and replaced with fillings.