The Advantages of Dental Implants with a Periodontist

Dental implants are one of the most popular tooth replacement solutions today because of their unmatched strength, durability, and natural feel. Receiving a brand-new smile with the help of this procedure can be life-changing.

However, there are a few oral health issues that may prevent you from receiving dental implants, including untreated gum disease.

Gum disease weakens the bone and gum tissue needed to support a dental implant, meaning the implant is more likely to fail. But seeing a periodontist to have your gum disease treated can help restore your oral health so that you can receive a dental implant.

Gum disease is only one of many factors that can make receiving your dental implant procedure from your periodontist the right choice for you.

How Do Dental Implants Work?

Dental implants are a tooth replacement procedure that involves the fusion of a titanium screw to the patient’s jawbone through a process called osseointegration. A small metal abutment is then attached to the screw, where a natural-looking replacement tooth can be connected.

What distinguishes dental implants from all other tooth replacement options is the osseointegration process. The prosthetic gains strength from fusing with the jawbone, which results in a more natural feel and far greater comfort when compared to options like full or partial dentures.

However, this same process is also why it can be more difficult for some patients to replace their missing teeth with dental implants. You must have enough strength in your jawbone and enough healthy gum tissue to support the dental implant, or the procedure has a risk of failure.

The entire process takes place over the course of 3–6 months, but the recovery process only takes about 3–4 days.

Gum Disease and Dental Implants

Gum disease is an infection of the gum tissue that can result in a variety of issues with the patient’s oral and overall health. This condition can impact your ability to receive dental implants.

As gum disease advances, it can cause gum tissue to weaken and even recede, leaving the area where the tooth was lost with less support for the implant.

Both tooth loss and gum disease can also lead to bone loss. With tooth loss, the jawbone loses the stimulation it once had from the natural tooth that caused it to grow. Insufficient jawbone strength can pose an obstacle to getting a dental implant.

Can You Still Receive Dental Implants with Gum Disease?

Once gum disease has advanced beyond its first stage — gingivitis — it is still highly treatable.

The best course of action to take if you are suffering from gum disease but you are interested in dental implants is to see a periodontist right away. There are some simple procedures, such as scaling and root planing, that may be able to get you on the right track quickly.

If your gum disease is more significant, or you have left it untreated for a long time, you may require one or both of the following procedures in order to receive a dental implant.

Gum Graft

If you have lost a significant amount of gum tissue due to gum disease, a gum graft procedure can help you to regain it so that you can provide your new dental implant with the support it needs.

The procedure involves taking healthy gum tissue, often sourced from another part of your mouth, and grafting it onto the area where gum recession has occurred.

Fortunately, modern techniques and technology have made the gum graft procedure more simple, comfortable, and effective than ever before.

Bone Graft

When enough jawbone dissipates due to gum disease or missing teeth, the patient may need a bone graft procedure to provide enough support for a dental implant.

This procedure is similar to the gum graft, using healthy bone to graft onto an area where bone loss has occurred.

Why You Should Get Dental Implants from Your Periodontist

If you are considering dental implants, there are a few reasons why choosing your periodontist for this procedure will likely provide you with the best results.

Extensive Education and Experience

While all dental professionals are rigorously trained, those who specialize in a particular area of dentistry will have even more knowledge and skill in that area.

Periodontists receive several more years of education in addition to their dentistry degree, along with hands-on experience treating patients and performing surgeries related to gum and bone diseases. They’ll also communicate with your primary dentist throughout the process.

Comprehensive Care

If you have gum disease, and it is preventing you from receiving dental implants, your periodontist can provide the treatment needed to support the implants as well as the implant procedure itself.

And if you need treatment beyond that standard care for gum disease, such as a bone graft or gum graft, they can provide those procedures as well.

Prompt Care for Complications

A periodontist’s experience will increase the odds of a successful dental implant procedure, meaning your risk of complications arising will be drastically reduced. They’ll also follow up with the patient regularly post-surgery to ensure that everything goes smoothly.

And in the event any complications do arise, you will likely be able to have them addressed by the same person who performed the procedure, as they specialize in not only dental implant surgery, but caring for bone and gum tissue, too.

Learn More About Dental Implants

Because of their specialized knowledge and ability to care for a wide range of conditions, a periodontist may be the best professional to perform your dental implant procedure. If you would like to learn more about your tooth replacement options, browse our blog or dental implants page.

Why Should I Get Dental Implants from a Periodontist?

How Do Dental Implants Work?

Gum Disease and Dental Implants