2 Reasons You Must Treat Gum Disease Before Getting Dental Implants

Have you finally decided to get that missing tooth replaced in your mouth? If so, choosing a dental implant is a popular way to accomplish this, but before you can get a dental implant, you may need to take care of some oral issues you have, such as gum disease. If your dentist detects gum disease, you will not be able to get the implant until this is treated. Here are two reasons this is necessary.

Gum Disease Poses Risks

When a dentist examines your mouth to find out if you are a good candidate for dental implants, he or she will look for signs of gum disease. To qualify for an implant, you must have healthy gums.

Gum disease forms from plaque that is left on the teeth too long, and it causes:

• The gums to recede
• Loose teeth due to the receding gums
• Infections from the bacteria
• Loss of teeth and jawbone

Gum disease poses too many risks to a person's mouth and to the ability of an implant to properly fuse into place. To get treatment for gum disease, your dentist may refer you to a periodontist, which is a dental specialist for problems with the gums.

Healthy, Sufficient Gums are Necessary

The second reason that your dentist will want to treat your gum disease first is because weakened gums are not strong enough to support an implant. While gum disease always starts out small and minor, it will continuously worsen if left untreated. If a dentist installs an implant into infected gums, several things could happen, including:

• The gums might not be able to hold it in place
• The mouth might reject the implant
• An infection may occur in the mouth causing the implant to come loose
• The implant will fall out

If you have gum disease, you can still get a dental implant; however, you must first have a dentist treat and eliminate the disease. This may take some time, but it will help your overall oral health, and it will give you the opportunity to replace a tooth that is missing.

As you get ready to get dental implants installed in your mouth, be prepared to undergo a complete evaluation of your mouth. This is always a necessary part of the dental implant process, and it will help you learn more about the condition of your mouth and gums. For more information, speak with an experienced dentist.