Most healthy adults who have lost a tooth can have an implant. The question is less “can I?” and more “is it the best option for me, right now?”
You’re usually a good candidate if
- You’re over about 18, so your jaw has finished growing
- Your gums are healthy, or can be made healthy first
- There’s enough bone where the tooth was — or it can be rebuilt
- You’re willing to keep up brushing, cleaning between teeth and check-ups
Things that make implants harder (not impossible)
- Smoking. It slows healing and raises the risk of an implant failing. We’ll ask you to stop for at least a few weeks around surgery.
- Uncontrolled diabetes. Well-controlled diabetes is usually fine; we may ask for a recent HbA1c result.
- Bone loss. A tooth lost years ago often leaves thin bone. Bone grafting can rebuild it, which adds time and cost.
- Some medications. Particularly certain osteoporosis and cancer drugs. Always bring a list.
When something else may be better
If the teeth either side of the gap already need crowns, a bridge can be quicker and cheaper. If several teeth are missing and budget matters, a well-made partial denture is a respectable choice. We’ll set the options side by side.
The only way to know
A consultation and 3D scan with Dr Omar Hassan. You’ll leave with a written answer — including when the answer is “not yet”.