Four Steps You Can Take To Increase Your Chances For Successful Dental Implants

If you are getting ready to have dental implants, your dentist probably already reviewed with you that dental implants have a success rate somewhere between 93-98%. Although this is touted as a very safe and successful surgery, there are implants that will fail, as well as complications which arise as a result of dental implant surgery. You do not want to be among the unsuccessful side of the statistics. Although, there are a few things which will be out of your control, there are steps you can take to help to ensure your surgery is a success.

Step #1 - Stop smoking - One of the first things you want to do prior to dental implant surgery is to ensure your body is ready to accept the implant once it has been placed. While there is a very small risk of your body viewing the dental implant as a foreign body and rejecting it, this rarely happens.

The risk of failure is greatly increased when you smoke. Some studies have shown the increase of failure may be multiplied by greater than ten percent. Not only will smoking increase your chances of infection, it will increase the risk of the bone not growing and fusing to the dental implant. This process, which is known as osseointegration is the key to your implant surgery being successful. Not only will smoking affect your osseointegration, but it will also reduce the amount of blood flow to your gums, which will reduce your ability to heal.

Step #2 - Keep your diabetes under control - If you have diabetes, your dentist may have already discussed with you that you are at an increased risk of your surgery not being successful due to your disease. Some dentist may even refuse to consider dental implant surgery if your diabetes is unstable, or being mismanaged. This does not have to be the case, you can have successful dental implant surgery, even if you suffer from diabetes, but it is going to require extra work on your part. 

Managing your diabetes prior to, during, and following your implant surgery is crucial. You need to monitor your diet, take your medication, as well as monitor your blood sugar numbers. This is not the time you want to consider going on a binge, and eating all of those things you know you do not suppose to have. Your dentist may also suggest you take a prolonged course of antibiotics after your surgery to assist in your recovery.

Step #3 - Wear your mouth guard - If you have bruxism, or you even suspect you clench or grind your teeth during the night, make sure this is addressed prior to you getting your dental implant. The excessive force bruxism causes to your teeth can cause your dental implant surgery to fail.

There are steps your dentist can take to reduce the impact bruxism has on your implant, but you must do your part as well. Follow all treatment suggestions, including wearing your dental mouth guard. Wearing it may not be sexy, but the success of your implant may depend upon it.

Step #4 - Keep your surgery site healthy and clean - This should go without saying, one of the greatest risks you will face during dental implant surgery is the risk of infection. While your dentist can do their part in ensuring the field is sterile during surgery, you will have to do your part once you return home. Follow all post surgical instructions on how to keep this area clean. Following any type of surgery, the last thing you want to have to deal with is any type of infection. Not only will the success of your implant be affected, but the health of the surrounding teeth could be as well.

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