Can You Begin Treatment Right Away, or Are You Not an Immediate Candidate?
Dental implants are widely regarded as the top solution for replacing missing teeth, but not everyone qualifies for treatment right away—especially if teeth have been missing for some time.

However, this doesn’t mean dental implants are out of reach. With Ora Dental, there’s always a path forward. You may just need additional preparatory procedures to ensure your mouth is healthy and strong enough to support the titanium implant securely.

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Immediately Suitable for Dental Implants
You are generally considered ready for dental implants if you have:

• Adequate bone volume and density
• Healthy gums with no signs of gum disease
• Healthy adjacent teeth
• Non-smoking status or have recently quit
• No history of radiation therapy to the jaw
• No uncontrolled chronic medical conditions

Not Immediately Suitable
You may not be an immediate candidate for dental implants if you have:

• Insufficient bone density or volume
• Been advised you need a bone graft or sinus lift
• Active periodontitis
• Poor oral hygiene history
• Medical conditions such as diabetes or bleeding disorders
• Severe teeth grinding (bruxism)
• Not yet reached 18 years of age

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How We Overcome Common Challenges to Dental Implants

Here’s how we can turn a “no” into a “yes” for most patients:

• Insufficient Bone: We recommend a bone graft or sinus lift (for upper back teeth) to build up enough bone to support the implant. Healing typically takes 4–9 months before the implant can be placed.
• Active Gum Disease: Treatment options include professional hygiene appointments, antimicrobial rinses, laser therapy, or other periodontal treatments to restore gum health. This usually causes only a few weeks’ delay.
• Poor Oral Hygiene History: We provide general dental care and regular hygiene appointments to stabilize your oral health before proceeding.
• Diabetes: Maintaining stable blood sugar levels is essential for healing. We encourage working closely with your doctor to get your condition under control before implant placement.
• Bleeding Issues: Certain medications can be prescribed to manage bleeding during and after the procedure.
• Severe Teeth Grinding: A custom nightguard will protect your implants, and Botox injections can be used to relax overactive jaw muscles if necessary.
• Under 18 Years Old: We recommend waiting until jaw growth is complete. In the meantime, temporary solutions like bridges or dentures can be used to restore function and appearance.

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Bone Is the Most Crucial Factor for Dental Implants

Dental implants are anchored directly into the jawbone, so having sufficient bone volume is essential for a successful outcome.

Since implants are designed to function like natural tooth roots, they rely on enough bone to bond securely over time through a process called osseointegration. Without adequate bone, implants cannot achieve long-term stability and are at risk of becoming loose or failing.

For instance, placing implants in areas with insufficient bone can result in wobbling and eventual implant failure.

Osseointegration — the fusion and growth of jawbone around the implant — is the most important phase of the entire implant process.

What’s Required for Implant Success:

• Bone height: Ideally, at least 10mm of vertical bone height
• Bone width (buccolingual thickness): Minimum of 6mm to fit standard implants
• Space at implant site: Typically, 7mm or more is needed between adjacent teeth to accommodate the implant properly

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What If You Don’t Have Enough Bone?

If a CBCT scan shows that your jaw lacks sufficient bone to support dental implants right away, don’t lose hope — it’s not the end of the road.

You’ll probably need a pre-implant procedure called a bone graft to build up the bone. This is the crucial first step to becoming a suitable candidate for implants. While it may seem like an extra hurdle, it’s a common and effective solution.

Bone grafting is a procedure similar in complexity to implant surgery. Although it may add some time and cost to your treatment, it ensures your implants will be stable and durable, potentially lasting up to 30 years.

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