Dental implants in Cookeville are a very popular permanent replacement for a missing tooth. However, not everyone will be cleared for this procedure.
In order to get a dental implant, you’ll need healthy gums and jawbone. Otherwise, it’s very likely the procedure itself will fail.
If you are dealing with gum disease and also want to get a dental implant, here’s everything you need to know about how this condition may affect your surgery.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Dental implants are prosthetics made from 3 elements:
- Metal post
- Abutment
- Dental crown
The metal post acts as the artificial tooth’s root and gets inserted into the jawbone. A dentist makes an incision in the gum line and adds the metal post, after which the process of osseointegration begins.
In order to move on to the next stages of the procedure, your jaw bone and gum tissue must fully heal and bind to the metal post, allowing it to remain fixed in place and ready to support the abutment and crown.
What Happens If You Have Gum Disease?
Gum disease is a serious infection of the gum tissue. It’s caused by plaque building up across the gum line, which is filled with bacteria. Over time, the bacteria attack the gums, leading to bleeding, gum recession, and even permanent tooth loss.
If you have gum disease, you will not be able to get a dental implant. The disease weakens the gums and the bone tissue, making it virtually impossible for a metal post to be inserted.
However, you may be able to get a dental implant if you treat your gum disease, and then restore your bone and gum mass through grafting procedures.
Can You Get Gum Disease After a Dental Implant?
Yes. Gum disease is usually caused by improper oral hygiene, which fails to remove bacteria and food particles from the mouth.
Over time, this bacteria accumulates on the teeth and near the gum line, causing inflammation. The inflammation eventually becomes an infection and can affect even the part of the gum line that holds the dental implant. If you get gum disease after implant surgery, you, unfortunately, risk losing the implant altogether.
How Is Gum Disease Treated?
You have several options to treat gum disease. Dr. Taylor Enochs Engler will recommend a particular one based on your specific case, but it could consist of:
- Cleaning the gums and teeth to remove all the plaque
- Deep cleanings under the gum line, if the infection has spread
- Applying topical antibiotics to control the infection, etc.
Book an Appointment at Dogwood Family Dental
If you want to get a dental implant and replace your missing teeth, Dr. Taylor Enochs Engler at Dogwood Family Dental will first need to properly treat your gum disease.
To get started, book a consultation at Dogwood Family Dental online, or call us at (931) 528-6536 for a short chat.
