What Can Complicate Your Eligibility For Full Mouth Dental Implants?

If you have lost roughly over half of your teeth, or you have been diagnosed with severe periodontal disease, you may be a candidate for full-mouth dental implants. In this procedure, the rest of your teeth will be extracted and at least four implants will be placed in your jaw so that the full arches can be affixed to them. There are potential factors that could complicate matters and disqualify you from a full-mouth dental implant procedure. Keep reading to learn what a few of these factors are, although keep in mind that they do not necessarily completely disqualify you as a potential candidate and instead may delay your procedure or impact your success rate.

Pregnancy

Due to the fact that general anesthesia is often used during full-mouth dental implant procedures, it is not recommended for women who are pregnant. There are instances when a dental implant procedure is considered time-sensitive, and in these cases, a dental professional will determine the safest time to schedule the procedure. However, it is generally recommended to wait until the baby has been delivered to undergo the surgery.

Smoking

Cigarette smoke has the potential to damage or block the salivary glands. Saliva is necessary to combat harmful bacteria, so when you have a lack of sufficient saliva, your risk of infection increases. Nicotine impacts the oxygen and blood flow to the bones and causes your immune system to weaken. It also prevents the implants from properly fusing to the bone. Therefore, smokers are at a heightened risk of implants failing, and because of this, it is recommended to stop smoking several weeks before the procedure and to avoid smoking for six months or more following the surgery to ensure the implants heal completely.

Chemotherapy

The density of your jawbone can be negatively impacted as a result of chemotherapy. If implants are placed in the bone without sufficient density, they are at an increased risk of failing. Therefore, if you have undergone chemotherapy, you will need to undergo a CT scan to determine adequate bone density.

Medical Conditions

There are a variety of health conditions that can impact the jawbone's ability to properly fuse with the dental implant. Some of these conditions include diabetes, heart disease, stroke, as well as autoimmune disorders. Individuals who have been diagnosed with these medical conditions are ultimately considered high risk.

If you would like to learn more about your eligibility for dental implants, reach out to a dental professional.