Our office will be closed from December 24th until Wednesday, January 6th. Happy Holidays!
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Our office will be closed from December 24th until Wednesday, January 6th. Happy Holidays!
Gum disease is the #1 cause of tooth loss in Americans of all ages, and is particularly troublesome for seniors. About two-thirds of people over the age of 65 have gum disease, according to the CDC.
But if you have gum disease and have lost one or more teeth, you may be interested in replacing them with dental implants in Lenoir City from Lakeside Dental. After all, dental implants are the best long-term solution for replacing missing teeth. But is it possible to get dental implants if you have gum disease? Find out now in this blog.
To qualify for a dental implant, you must have a healthy mouth. That means that if you do have gum disease, you must be receiving treatment to keep it under control. Dental implants involve placing a strong metal post directly into your gum tissue and jaw bone.
And in cases of untreated gum disease, this infection can cause lots of damage to your gum tissue and to your jaw bone. Your jaw bone and gums simply may not be strong or healthy enough to support a dental implant, which means the rate of failure would be much higher. Because of this, a serious case of gum disease can disqualify you from getting dental implants.
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to get an alternative treatment like a dental bridge or a set of partial dentures. Read on for more details.
Once it progresses past the initial stage (gingivitis), gum disease can never be completely reversed. However, it can be controlled with periodontal care from Dr. Joseph Blalock. With treatment such as scaling and root planing (deep cleanings), Dr. Blalock can eliminate the bacteria that cause periodontal disease and help you keep your mouth healthy.
And with oral surgeries like gum grafts or bone grafts, it’s possible to rebuild and repair your gums and jaw bone, and strengthen them sufficiently to accommodate one or more dental implants. If you get proper gum disease treatment and qualify for bone grafts, it’s entirely possible for you to get dental implants.
If you do get dental implants and you have gum disease, it’s very important to continue maintaining good at-home oral hygiene, and to visit the team at Lakeside Dental for frequent periodontal cleanings. As mentioned, gum disease never truly goes away, and you need to make sure you’re staying on top of things to keep it from damaging your gums, your jaw bone, and your new dental implants.
If your gum disease is under control but you’ve lost one or more teeth, you may be a good candidate for dental implants at our office. To learn more and get started, just contact Lakeside Dental online. Dr. Blalock is always accepting new patients in Lenoir City, and we look forward to meeting you and exploring your options for tooth replacement after gum disease.
