I am proud to say that I have all my own teeth at the age of 65. While that may not sound unusual to some people, everyone in my family who is my age or older wears dentures. I always tell people that that flossing is the key to good dental health. I have arthritis in my hands, but I don't let it keep me from flossing every day. My trick is to use those little "flossers" you can buy at the drug store. They have plastic handles floss stretched out on top of the handle. These make flossing easier on days when my arthritis is acting up. I started this blog to let other people know that they can keep their teeth healthy into old age when they take care of them. If you have hand pain, find ways to make flossing easier, like I did.
Don't Let Hand Pain Keep You from Flossing
Can You Get Dental Implants If You Have Gum Disease?
Francis Miles
Tooth loss and gum disease go hand in hand for many people. You need healthy gum tissue to help keep your teeth in place and protect tooth enamel against disease, so if you have gum disease, it's important that you keep your gum health in check.
One way you can ensure your oral health stays in check is to have your teeth cleaned professionally as often as your dentist recommends. If you have gingivitis or more severe diseases, then you will need periodontal cleanings, which are more intensive.
However, if you have missing teeth and gum disease at the same time, can you get dental implants? The answer is entirely dependent upon the current and projected health of your teeth and gums, and your dentist will make the ultimate decision for you. Here are things to think about when it comes to getting dental implants when you have gum disease.
How severe your gum disease is
If you have gum disease you aren't managing and it's resulted in the loss of your teeth, then your dentist will want to get your gum disease under control before referring you to any oral surgeon for dental implants. Otherwise, your dental implants wouldn't have a great chance of success and any underlying gum disease could easily cause a mouth infection following the procedure.
How long you have to treat your gum disease
If your gum disease is already being monitored and is improving under your dentist's care, then you may be able to get dental implants even if you haven't fully eradicated your gum disease woes just yet. You may have to be on antibiotics following your dental implants procedure and you may have a longer healing period, but if you have your gum disease largely under control at the time of your appointment, you might get dental approval to move forward.
How healthy the rest of your mouth is
Gum disease usually isn't a standalone dental problem. If you have other oral health issues, like rotting or dead teeth, jaw bone issues or infection, or you have more pressing dental problems, your dentist will want to take care of these concerns before they approve you for any other extensive dental work. Dental implants may be put on hold until the rest of your oral health has caught up to a more healthy state.
After you get dental implants, continue with your regular dental care and appointments. Keeping your gums healthy will allow you to keep your dental implants for as long as possible. Contact a dentist for more information regarding dental implants.
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