Losing a tooth (or teeth) is not something trivial. It’s not something you can just forget and move on with life because it’s a huge part of your appearance and confidence. It’s not just about looks – missing teeth can even affect the quality of your life, leaving you feeling frustrated and unhappy. 

Dental implants are one of the most popular and common solutions to fixing the gap left by missing teeth. Crafted to look, feel and function exactly like your natural teeth, they restore the tooth structure down to the root. 

However, while implants are often the go-to solution for missing teeth, they aren’t for everyone. 

You deserve to have a smile that’s gap-free, functional and confident. Luckily for you, dental implants aren’t the only option available and we, at Brisbane Implants offer a range of tooth replacement solutions for your missing teeth. 

Who is not a Good Candidate for Dental Implants? 

Factors that affect your eligibility for dental implants include: 

• Poor Oral Hygiene: Good oral health is needed to ensure the success of dental implants. Why? Poor oral hygiene can lead to bacteria and plaque build-up which can cause gum disease. Gum disease (left untreated) can eventually lead to bone loss, making you ineligible for implants. 

• Insufficient Bone Density: Since dental implants are placed into your jawbone, they need enough bone tissue to hold on to. So, if you don’t have enough bone density, you may not be suitable for implants. We will however look at improving your bone density with bone grafting. 

• Active Gum Disease: If you have active gum disease, you must get it under control and wait for the tissues to heal before considering dental implants. 

• Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes, osteoporosis and cancer can affect healing and the success of dental implants. 

• Certain Medications: Medications such as anticoagulants and immunosuppressants can affect healing and your eligibility for implants. 

• Smoking and Alcohol Consumption: Excessive smoking and alcohol consumption can affect the healing process, leading to implant failure. So, if you are a heavy smoker or drinker, you may need to cut down or quit altogether before getting implants.

• Radiation Therapy: If you’ve been undergoing radiation therapy in the face and neck area, you may need to wait several years before getting implants. This is because radiation therapy can make certain changes to your jawbone. 

What are the Alternatives for Dental Implants? 

If you are not eligible for dental implants due to one or more of the above reasons, there are a few alternative treatments available.

Dental Bridges 

Dental bridges have been around for many years and are a trusted solution when replacing missing teeth. As the name literally suggests, they literally ‘bridge’ the gap left by missing teeth by anchoring a prosthetic tooth or teeth to the adjacent teeth. However, we may need to trim down the adjacent teeth to place the bridge. 

From traditional dental bridges, Cantilever dental bridges and Maryland bridges to implant-supported bridges, there are many options you can choose from. At Brisbane Implants, we offer Dental Implant Bridges, where the dental bridge is connected to dental implants instead of the adjacent teeth. 

Dentures 

Dentures are a removable set of artificial teeth that are custom-designed to fill in the gaps and restore appearance and function. Mainly of two types - partial and full dentures - they are a cost-effective way to restore your smile. Partial dentures are suitable for you if you have a few missing teeth while full dentures are suitable if you are missing all the teeth in your upper or lower jaw. 

However, the downside is that dentures require periodic adjustment as your bone changes shape over time, making them less stable and secure. 

 

Just like dental implants, dental bridges and dentures may not be suitable for everyone. At Brisbane Implants, we understand that the needs of each and every one of our patients are unique. That’s why our team is committed to providing customised treatment plans tailored to your needs, helping you make the right solution for restoring and improving your smile and life. 

We also offer other implant solutions like All-on-4® Dental Implants and Implant-Supported Dentures for your missing teeth needs. 

Contact us today to schedule your consultation and learn more about dental implant alternatives.