Am I a candidate for implants?

Most adults who have lost teeth can have implants. Answer these questions, then discuss them with your dentist:

• Is your general health reasonably good?
• Are your gums healthy, or can gum disease be treated first?
• If you smoke, are you willing to cut down or stop around surgery?
• If you have diabetes, is it well controlled?
• Have you had radiotherapy to the head or neck, or taken bone medicines such as bisphosphonates? (Not always a barrier, but needs planning.)
• Are you able to clean your teeth daily, or have help to do so?

Not enough bone is rarely a dead end: grafting, short, tilted or zygomatic implants can help.