Gum Disease And Your Dental Implants
Jan 31, 2018
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Because the health of your gums and jawbone are vitally important to the success of your dental implants, Dr. Keith M. Bram wants you to know how gum disease can affect your outcome. If you are considering implants for restoring your teeth or you already have an implant, read on to learn more. In addition to specializing in implant dentistry, Dr. Bram is experienced in all areas of cosmetic and general dentistry and creates customized treatment plans to his patients become good candidates for implants.
Gum (or periodontal) disease ranges from gum inflammation (periodontitis) to advanced periodontal disease which can cause gum and bone loss and eventually loss of teeth. Signs of gum disease include:
Many patients with gum disease are still candidates for dental implants. In fact, gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults, leading to the need for implant restoration. Additional procedures, such as soft tissue (gum) augmentation and bone grafting may be necessary if gum disease is an issue. And all patients should be free from disease and infection before starting the implant process. If you currently have gum disease, Dr. Bram can create a treatment plan to help rid your mouth of disease and prepare you for dental implants.
If you already have dental implants, it is extremely important to make sure that you do not develop gum disease. The success of implants depends on the successful fusion of your titanium screw into your jawbone, which can be compromised if disease or infection is present. Gum disease leads to bone loss and gum damage, both of which can lead to the failure of your implant.
The good news is that caring for your dental implants is as easy as caring for the rest of your teeth. With regular brushing and flossing, you can ensure the health of your mouth and success of your implants.
Even with gum disease, many patients may still qualify for dental implants after the appropriate preparatory treatments. If you have gum disease and are wondering if dental implants are right for you, contact Dr. Bram to schedule a consultation. We will do everything we can to prepare you for a successful dental implant procedure so you can once again smile with confidence!