Am I a candidate for a dental implant?

Most healthy adults who are missing one or more teeth can have a dental implant. The dentist confirms it at a consultation by checking three things: the health of your gums, the amount and quality of bone where the tooth used to be, and your general health. Very few people are told "no"; most people with a complication are told "yes, with extra steps".

What does the dentist check at the consultation?

Your dentist looks at the gap and the teeth beside it, checks your gums for inflammation, and takes X-rays or scans as needed to measure the bone. She also goes through your medical history and medicines, and asks about smoking, grinding and how you clean your teeth. You leave with a written plan that says whether an implant suits you and what the steps are.

Is there an age limit for dental implants?

There is no upper age limit. Implants are placed in people in their seventies and eighties when their health allows. The only firm lower limit is that the jaw must have finished growing, which is usually in the late teens; before that a different solution bridges the gap.

Can I have an implant if I have had the tooth missing for years?

Usually yes. When a tooth has been missing for a long time the bone under it shrinks, because it is no longer being used. If the bone is too thin or too short for an implant, a bone graft rebuilds it first, and the implant follows after a healing period. This adds months to the plan, not a refusal.

Can I have an implant if I have gum disease?

Gum disease must be treated and stable before an implant is placed. Bacteria that attack the gums around natural teeth attack the gum around an implant in the same way. So the plan starts with gum treatment and a review, and the implant comes after the gums are healthy.

Can I have an implant if I have diabetes?

Yes, when your blood sugar is well controlled. Poorly controlled diabetes slows healing and raises the risk of infection, so your dentist may ask for a recent blood test or a note from your physician before placement. Dr. Kim, a family medicine doctor, works alongside Dr. Kirsten at Ivory Premier, so this check can be done under one roof.

Can I have an implant if I smoke?

Smoking is the single habit most linked to implant failure, because it narrows the small blood vessels that heal the bone around the implant. It does not rule you out, but your dentist will ask you to stop, or at least pause, around placement and through the healing months, and will explain the higher risk honestly.

What conditions need extra care?

What if I am missing several teeth, or all of them?

Implants are not only for single teeth. Two or more implants can carry a bridge, and a small number of implants can hold a full set of fixed teeth or secure a denture that otherwise moves. The assessment is the same; the plan is longer.

How do I find out for sure?

The only way to know is a consultation. At Ivory Premier in Mandaue City the first visit is an assessment and a conversation about what you want, and you leave with a written plan before anything starts. Request a consultation.