Receiving dental implants means going through a serious form of oral surgery, and it's a good idea to give the requirements of the process some thought before you get too involved with it. A practitioner can check a number of details to determine whether you may be a good candidate. Here are four items to discuss during your consultation.

Bone Structure

There's a lot more than just gums going on between your jaw and your teeth, and it all makes a big difference in how likely a dental implant services provider will be able to help you. Most people grow bone underneath their teeth, but each person has a different amount. Once a tooth has been removed, the bone will begin to be reabsorbed by the body if it's not being stimulated by the presence and usage of a tooth in eating.

Gum Health

No qualified practitioner will consider putting in implants until a person's gums are healthy. Given that teeth typically have to be removed before implants go in, there are usually concerns about the gum health of candidates. Tests can be performed to see how healthy your gums are, and you'll have to work with your dental hygienist in order to restore your gum health to a level conducive to oral surgery and implants.

Time

The speed with which dental implants are installed largely hinges on the oral health of the patient and how many teeth are still in the mouth. If a series of large bridges need to be installed, some practitioners prefer to do them in two sets, putting in the left and right sides on separate occasions. Should you need a number of single-tooth implants, the process may go even longer in order to reduce inflammation that can harm neighboring healthy, natural teeth. A patient may elect to remove all teeth and replace them the same day with four arches.

Hardware

The main fixture that attaches an implant into the bone between the jaw and the gums is usually made from either zirconia or a mixture of zirconia and titanium. This design is intended to be as minimally irritating to the gums as possible. A ceramic cap, similar to what is used for a crown, is then mounted to the top of the post. It's normal to mount a bridge between two posts or a post and a healthy tooth to fill a large gap.