Am I Suitable for Dental Implants?
Am I Suitable for Dental Implants? — Current Guide
The key factors your dentist will assess, and what happens if you're not immediately suitable
Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
Most healthy adults with sufficient bone density and good oral hygiene are suitable candidates for dental implants. The success rate for dental implants in healthy patients is consistently above 95% at 10 years. The key requirements are:
- Adequate jawbone density and volume to anchor the implant post
- Healthy gums free of active periodontal disease
- Good general health with no uncontrolled chronic conditions
- Non-smoker or willingness to stop smoking during treatment
- Completed jaw growth (typically 18 years old minimum)
Factors That May Affect Your Suitability
| Factor | Impact | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Bone loss | May prevent implant placement | Bone graft or sinus lift (adds cost and time) |
| Gum disease | Must be treated first | Periodontal treatment before implants |
| Heavy smoking | Doubles failure risk | Stop smoking during osseointegration |
| Uncontrolled diabetes | Impairs healing | Implants possible once diabetes is well-controlled |
| Bisphosphonate medication | May affect bone healing | Specialist assessment required; often still possible |
| Radiotherapy to jaw | Reduces blood supply to bone | Specialist centre assessment needed |
| Bruxism (teeth grinding) | Can overload implants | Night guard fitted; usually still suitable |
The Consultation Assessment
Your implant dentist will assess suitability through: a visual examination of your mouth, gums and remaining teeth; dental X-rays; and usually a cone beam CT scan to measure bone volume and density in three dimensions. From these results they can tell you whether you need any preparatory treatment and give you a realistic treatment plan with timescales and costs.
What if I'm Not Immediately Suitable?
Being told you are not immediately suitable does not mean you can never have implants. The most common issue — insufficient bone — can usually be resolved with bone grafting or a sinus lift, adding 3–6 months to the timeline and £550–£2,500 to the cost. Gum disease must be treated first (a few months). Diabetes and other conditions need to be well-managed. In a small number of cases, implants genuinely are not possible, and alternatives like implant-retained overdentures or conventional dentures will be recommended.
Check what implants cost near you before your consultation.
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