As you know, any dental procedure begins with a thorough examination. In the case of dental implants, we need to look for specific indicators to determine if you are a good candidate for implant placement.
Visual Exam
The most significant factor that will affect the long-term success of a dental implant is the condition of the bone in which the implant will be placed. Your Dallas Implant Dentist will need to perform a thorough exam of your jawbone to determine if the area in which the implant is to be placed is of sufficient strength and density.
Dental X-Rays
Your implant dentist will first visually examine and measure the jawbone. The next step is dental x-rays, which may consist of a combination of a panoramic x-ray (a single x-ray showing jawbones and all of your teeth) and/or several individual x-rays.
Evaluation of Bone
The dentist must find that there is adequate mass of bone and that this bone is of sufficient quality. Making this determination involves evaluating the shape of the bone (both width and height). It also involves evaluating the density of the bone.
There is a possibility that your implant dentist will find that the bone in the region of the planned dental implant is not adequate. This deficiency can result from bone resorption (bone loss) that takes place in areas of the jaw bone where teeth have been extracted. This condition occurs most often where multiple teeth were extracted many years previously.
Other Considerations
As your implant dentist proceeds through the exam, he or she will search for other potential complications, such as the location of sinuses, nerves, blood vessels and the roots of adjacent teeth. The dentist must also evaluate gum tissue in the area to ensure that it is healthy and free of disease such as periodontitis.
Your Dallas, TX Cosmetic Dentist will be happy to answer any other questions you may have or to describe the process in more detail.