For many patients, gum disease is the reason for visiting the dentist for dental implants. Poor periodontal health means a higher risk of losing teeth, and an increased need for a permanent tooth restoration to protect against bone resorption and misalignment.
If you are considering dental implants but are concerned about your gums’ state, here is everything you need to know about the connection between dental implants and gum disease.
The Relationship Between Dental Implants and Gum Disease
Gum diseases, such as gingivitis and periodontitis, are the leading causes of tooth loss. As bacteria attack the connective tissue surrounding the tooth, the attachment weakens, and the tooth becomes loose. An excellent option for replacing missing teeth is with dental implants.
Dental implants act as artificial tooth roots that provide a stable foundation for a crown, bridge, or denture. Implants look and function exactly like your natural teeth, allowing you to eat and speak as normal. Implants are also easy to clean, so you can maintain better teeth and gum health, preventing future periodontal disease.
Can I Get Dental Implants If I Have Gum Disease?
One prerequisite for dental implant surgery is healthy gum tissue. While the implant is embedded directly into the jawbone, the gum tissue also needs to be thick enough to surround the implant.
If you have periodontitis or another gum disease, the gum tissue deteriorates and weakens. It is vital to have these conditions treated before receiving dental implants. Gum diseases do not resolve on their own; they are likely to worsen over time and affect the success of the implant surgery.
If you do not treat your gum disease before your dental implant surgery, or develop gum disease following the procedure, you are at risk of developing peri-implantitis. Peri-implantitis occurs when bacterial plaque grows on the gum and bone tissue surrounding the implant. This causes inflammation and may lead to implant rejection.
If you have had dental implants placed and experience persistent swelling, bad breath, and excessive bleeding, you may have peri-implantitis. Contact your dentist immediately for treatment to preserve your implant and protect your health.
Treatment for Gum Disease
Before undergoing surgery to place dental implants, your dentist may perform one of several treatments for gum disease.
Deep Cleaning
Gum disease develops because plaque forms along the gum line and cannot be removed with brushing alone. Plaque irritates sensitive periodontal tissue, leading to inflammation. The only way to remove plaque is with professional deep cleaning at your dentist. Cleaning involves scaling and polishing your teeth with an ultrasonic scaler, then administering a therapeutic mouth rinse.
Root Planing
If you have more advanced gum disease, your dentist may need to perform a root planing procedure following a scale and clean. Root planing smooths the rough surfaces below the gum line to remove any plaque and tartar and eliminate pockets where bacteria can grow.
Antibiotics
For periodontitis, your dentist may prescribe a course of antibiotics to eliminate the infection. It is important to take the full required dosage for the requisite length of treatment to prevent the infection from recurring.
Soft Tissue Graft
In significant tissue deterioration cases, you may need a soft tissue graft to regenerate your gums to the thickness needed for a successful dental implant. A soft tissue graft also improves the aesthetic appearance of the implant.
Tissue for the gum graft is typically taken from the roof of your mouth, but may also be obtained from a donor tissue bank. The healthy tissue is attached to the gum tissue surrounding the tooth root and acts as a growth matrix to generate new tissue.
Gum graft recovery is typically quick so that you can schedule your surgery for dental implants approximately three weeks after the procedure.
Preventing Gum Disease
As with any oral health issue, preventative care is the best way to reduce your risk of developing gum disease and improve your chances of successful implant surgery.
Good pre- and post-implant surgery hygiene include:
- Brushing twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste
- Flossing and using mouthwash once per day
- Quit smoking because this is one of the biggest factors contributing to gum disease
- Eat a low-sugar, high-fibre diet
- Visit your dentist twice a year for an oral exam and deep clean
The Dental Implant Procedure
The surgery for dental implants is relatively straightforward and is typically performed as an outpatient procedure using local anaesthetic. If you suffer from dental anxiety, we offer inhalation sedation, which uses nitrous oxide to induce a state of relaxation or IV sedation.
To start, the dentist makes a small incision in the newly regenerated gum tissue to expose the jaw bone underneath. They then drill a narrow hole in the bone and insert the implant shaped like a tiny screw. The surgical site is sutured and packed with gauze to help blood clot formation.
Hygiene is crucial for the success of your dental implant surgery. Poor surgical hygiene can lead to infection and implant rejection. At No Gaps Dental, we use the latest sterilisation techniques for all our instruments and surfaces, and our staff use hand sanitiser in addition to surgical gloves before performing any procedure. We also provide hand sanitiser stations in frequent locations in the waiting room for our patients to maintain a sanitary environment.
Restore Your Teeth and Gums at No Gaps Dental
If you need dental implants and gum disease is preventing you from booking your surgery, call No Gaps Dental on (02) 8007 6727 to schedule an exam and gum disease treatment. Our team of dedicated dentists use state-of-the-art techniques and the highest hygiene standards, from cutting-edge sterilisation equipment to hand sanitiser, to ensure that your treatment and dental implant surgery are a success.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.