Have you lost one or more teeth? You are not alone – about 120 million people in the United States have lost at least one tooth.

If you are like most people who are missing one or more teeth, you may have heard about dental implants. About 3 million people in the nation currently have dental implants, according to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, and another 500,000 people get dental implants each year.

A dental implant is a post, or artificial tooth root, which works as an anchor to hold a replacement bridge or tooth. Your dentist implants the artificial tooth root, which is a titanium post, into your jawbone. Over time, the post becomes part of your jaw. Next, your dentist fits a crown or bridge over the sturdy post.

Millions of people chose dental implants because they look and feel like natural teeth. Dental implants are a good option for those who have lost teeth as the result of gum disease, an injury, or for another reason.

If you have lost one or more teeth, you might wonder if you are a good candidate for dental implants.

Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants

Fortunately, most people are good candidate dental implants. You may a good candidate for dental implants if you meet the following criteria:

• You are missing one or more teeth
• You want an alternative to bridges or denture
• Your gums are healthy
• You are old enough for your jawbone to have stopped growing, which is around the age of 18
• Your jaw has enough bone to anchor and support the implants

You may still be a good candidate for dental implants if you have bone loss. In fact, your dentist may recommend dental implants to prevent further bone loss. In these cases, your dentist can use grafting procedures to rebuild the jawbone as part of the implant process.

To find out if you are a good candidate for tooth implants in San Antonio, make an appointment with the dentists at Tran Dental. Our dentists can create a personalized treatment plan to provide you with dental implants that look and feel like your natural teeth. Contact Tran Dental P.C. Gentle Family Dentistry today at 210-674-3700.