Losing a tooth can be quite a challenging experience, affecting your confidence and how you enjoy your favorite foods. That gap isn’t just about appearance—it can actually lead to dental issues like shifting neighboring teeth, gradual bone loss, and even changes to your facial structure over time. The good news? Dental implant restorations offer a wonderful, permanent solution that feels and functions just like your natural teeth!
Here at Richard Hardt’s Live Oak Dental Family Dentistry, we love helping our patients regain their confident smiles through our comprehensive dental implant solutions. Our dedicated team, led by Dr. Rick Hardt and Dr. Irene Cruz, brings over 34 years of caring experience to every procedure. We’re passionate about creating beautiful restorations that’ll have you smiling, chatting, and enjoying your favorite foods again in no time.
Understanding Dental Implant Candidacy
Think of dental implants as tiny titanium anchors that we place into your jawbone to serve as new “roots” for replacement teeth. Whether you’re missing just one tooth or several, these innovative restorations provide a rock-solid foundation for natural-looking replacements. Let’s examine what makes someone an ideal candidate for this life-changing procedure.
Good Overall Health
Your body’s overall wellness is significant in how well it accepts and heals around your new implants. Here are some health factors we’ll discuss prior to your implant restoration procedure:
- Manageable chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease
- A strong immune system that supports proper healing
- No recent radiation treatments to your head or neck area
- Freedom from smoking or tobacco use, which can slow down healing
- No medications that might affect how your bone heals
Don’t worry if you have some controlled health conditions—many of our patients do! During your consultation, we’ll review your health history to ensure implants are a safe choice.
Sufficient Bone Density
Your jawbone needs a strong foundation to welcome and support your new implants. When teeth have been missing for a while, the jawbone starts to gradually shrink because it misses the stimulation it used to get from natural tooth roots.
If you’ve been without a tooth for some time, we’ll take a look at your bone density using our advanced imaging technology. Even if you’ve experienced moderate bone loss, you might still be a great candidate for dental implant restoration after a simple bone grafting procedure. These helpful treatments can build up your jawbone to create a strong new home for your implants.
Healthy Gums
Healthy gums create the perfect environment for successful implants. Gum disease can introduce unwelcome bacteria that might interfere with how well your implants succeed in the long term.
Before placing your implants, we’ll ensure your gums are in good shape by addressing any existing issues first. Regular dental check-ups and good home care habits are your implants’ best friends before and after placement. Our patients who maintain excellent oral hygiene typically enjoy the most successful long-term results with their new smiles! In fact, studies show that dental implants have an impressive success rate of around 97% after 10 years when properly cared for, making them one of the most reliable tooth replacement options available today.
Special Considerations for Implant Candidates
Here are a few special situations that need extra attention when considering your dental implant candidacy. These circumstances don’t necessarily mean implants aren’t right for you—you just might need a slightly different approach.
Age Requirements
While there’s no upper age limit for enjoying the benefits of dental implants (we’ve successfully placed them for patients well into their 80s and beyond!), we typically wait until patients are at least 18 years old before placing permanent implants. This ensures their jawbone has finished its natural growth process.
Pregnancy
If you’re expecting, we’ll usually suggest postponing elective dental procedures like implant placement until after your little one arrives. This simple precaution helps avoid any unnecessary stress during pregnancy and eliminates worries about medication use during the implant process.
Previous Dental Work
Having existing dental work doesn’t stop you from getting implants! In fact, many of our patients choose implants to replace older solutions like bridges or partial dentures. We’ll examine your current dental situation and identify how implants can beautifully integrate with or replace your existing work.
Call Us at Richard Hardt’s Live Oak Dental Family Dentistry, for a Dental Implant Consultation
At Richard Hardt’s Live Oak Dental Family Dentistry, we blend advanced technology with good old-fashioned care to create beautiful, functional smiles you’ll love showing off. Our outstanding team, led by Dr. Richard “Rick” Hardt, Dr. Irene Cruz, and Dr. Jackson Lewis, brings decades of experience and a genuine passion for helping our patients smile with confidence again.
We believe in creating personalized treatment plans that consider your unique needs, preferences, and smile goals. We’ll take the time to thoroughly evaluate whether implants are right for you and discuss all your options in a relaxed, pressure-free environment. Ready to find out if dental implant restoration might be your perfect smile solution? Give us a friendly call at (559) 784-6523 or fill out our contact form to schedule your consultation—we can’t wait to meet you!
