If you’ve experienced tooth loss because of a chronic oral health concern, like gum disease, then there are already several things you should consider before receiving dental implants to replace them. In the case of gum disease, for instance, the reason why it causes tooth loss is because it erodes the gum tissues and jawbone structure that support them. Before you replace your lost teeth and their roots, it’s important to address this disease and stop the destruction that it causes. Today, we examine a few other things you should consider and what you may need to change before receiving dental implants.

Bad habits like smoking or chewing tobacco

Chewing or smoking tobacco are among the most harmful things you can do for your oral health, not to mention your overall systemic wellbeing. It’s also a guarantee that you’ll eventually develop gum disease and other oral health concerns if you don’t quit the habit. If you’ve already lost one or more teeth, it’s even more important to quit the habit in order to fully restore your smile and oral health. With dental implants, the biocompatible posts are designed specifically to integrate with your jawbone and oral structures, and the damage that tobacco causes them can make this impossible.

Inadequate dental hygiene practices

After losing a tooth, or several, keeping up with good dental hygiene practices is essential. Depending on the cause of your tooth loss, an inadequate hygiene routine may be one of the core factors behind your oral health problems. Before rebuilding your smile, your dentist will help you work to improve the quality of your dental hygiene practices to prevent the development of any additional oral health concerns. After your dental implants and restoration have been placed, keeping your smile healthy on a consistent basis will be key to your restoration’s long-term success.

An untreated bite dysfunction like bruxism

Aside from chronic oral health concerns that get worse over time, there are also concerns that involve your bite’s function and could potentially damage your dental implant restoration. For example, if you constantly grind your teeth together, a condition known as bruxism, then the habit can lead to extensive damage to your remaining healthy teeth and your dental implant restoration. As part of rebuilding your smile, we may recommend treatment to alleviate your bruxism in addition to replacing your lost tooth or teeth.

Learn what you need before getting implants

Before receiving your dental implants and fully restoring your smile, there may be one or more things you should change to help ensure the success of your treatment. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling the Dental Centre of Conroe in Conroe, TX, today at (936) 441-4600.