Grace Power & Beauty

Dental implants are a solution to lost and damaged teeth for lots of people and the benefits of them are plentiful. Whether it be to restore confidence as their appearance is improved, or simply so that they can eat properly again, these are just two of the many reasons people opt for dental implants over the other options available.

With regards to suitability, the vast majority of those who want dental implants will be able to have them fitted, however, that unfortunately does not apply to everyone. The successful fitting and use of dental implants require the patient’s jawbone to be in good condition with regards to its strength and density. This is to ensure that any titanium inserts can fuse with it and be embedded securely so that the dental implants have the expected longevity.

Sadly, there are some medical conditions that can cause the density of bones, which includes the jawbone, to be compromised, and as such it could be that the condition of the jawbone does not lend itself to having the necessary inserts embedded in it.

Another issue that might be cause for concern is someone’s propensity to suffer from infections. There are medical conditions that can adversely affect a person’s immune system, and as the risk of infection needs to be minimised when dental implants are fitted, this too could exclude someone from being suitable for the procedure for fear that infections could prevail.

This problem stems from the fact that within the roots of your natural teeth there are cells that act as anti-bacterial agents, and thus bacteria such as dental plaque are dealt with. With your natural teeth missing or removed, these anti-bacterial cells are no longer present and thus the risk of dental plaque, which can damage gums, is higher, especially if the patient continues with poor oral hygiene.

So, with the risk to jawbone structure and reduced immunity to infection being significant issues, here are some medical conditions that could mean an individual who suffers from them being unsuitable for dental implant treatment.

Cancer

If someone has received or is receiving chemotherapy for their cancer, there is a risk that this can diminish the density of the jawbone, and such the dental implants may fail to become adequately fused.

Blood Clotting Disorders

Whenever we bleed our body naturally reacts to clot the blood in order to stem the bleeding, otherwise, we would bleed to death. Some patients have conditions such as thrombophilia, which means their blood clotting is overactive. To treat it the medication prescribed is often an anti-coagulant which presents a risk of excess bleeding and anaemia during the surgery and recovery period.

Compromised Immune system

A compromised immune system can occur as a result of some other medical condition, and it manifests as either providing the individual with excessive immunity beyond what is natural, or the opposite, where their immunity is diminished. Either way, this can mean dental implants are not suitable.

Scenario one where the immune system is overactive which means that the inserts are likely to be attacked and effectively rejected by your body, even though they present no risk. Conversely, we have mentioned that removing natural teeth reduces your immunity to infection within your gums, and if your immune system is not sufficient to fight oral bacteria, then you are going to have real problems with dental implants.

Diabetes, Especially If Poorly Managed

Diabetes in and of itself may not be a barrier to dental implants, but poorly managed diabetes almost certainly will be. Unmanaged diabetes is likely to lead to a condition called periodontal disease, which is more commonly known as gum disease. If a patient has this, not only will their gum tissue be so swollen and tender that dental implants are out of the question, in the worst cases their jawbone may also be severely damaged, which definitely rules dental implants out.