Am I even a candidate? That is the question almost everyone asks before they ask what implants cost. The answer is not the same for everyone. Some people are a straightforward YES or NO. Others need a small step first. Don’t guess which one you are. Our dental implant quiz below runs through the same things our dentists in Scarborough check at a consultation in about two minutes. The rest of this page explains the reasoning behind your result.
Dental Implants Candidacy Quiz
- 9 questions
- 2 minutes
- No email needed
What a Dental Implant Really Is
A dental implant is a small titanium post that takes the place of a tooth root. Once it sets into the jaw, a dentist attaches a crown on top that looks and works like a natural tooth. Because the post fuses with bone, an implant stays put when you eat. It does not lean on the neighbouring teeth for support the way a bridge does.
What Makes Someone a Good Candidate for Implants
As dentists, we usually weigh three things more than anything else.
Enough healthy jawbone
An implant needs bone to anchor into. If a tooth has been missing for a long time, the bone in that spot can shrink. This is common and easy to measure on a scan. When there is not enough height or width, a bone graft or a sinus lift can rebuild the area first.
Gums in good shape
Implants do best in settled gum tissue. Active gum disease lowers the odds of a smooth result, so a dentist usually treats that before placement. Having been treated for gum disease in the past does not disqualify you. It just means the area gets checked with extra care.
General health and daily habits
A few health conditions and habits affect how well the site heals. Smoking is the big one, since it slows healing at the gum line. Conditions like diabetes matter too, though managed diabetes is not a hard stop..
What if you are missing bone or have gum issues?
Plenty of our patients who want implants need a step before placement. That is normal, not a setback.
If you are suffering from a missing bone, a bone graft comes in. A bone graft adds volume where the jaw has thinned.
If your upper back teeth are involved, a sinus lift makes room above them.
And if your gums are inflamed, a short course of treatment settles them before any implant work begins.
None of these rule implants out. They prepare the ground.
When implants are not the right choice
Sometimes the bone is too far gone for a graft to rebuild enough support. When that happens, a bridge or a denture does the job better, and we will tell you straight.
A few health factors call for a closer look before we decide anything:
- Uncontrolled diabetes slows healing, so it needs to be steady first.
- Certain bone-density medications, mainly the antiresorptive kind, raise the risk of a poorly healing jaw, so we coordinate with your physician before planning.
- Past radiation to the head or neck changes how the jaw heals and can make implants the wrong call.
- Some autoimmune and bleeding conditions need medical sign-off too.
- Heavy smoking is the factor most within your control, and it lowers success enough that some dentists will not place an implant until you cut back.
- Timing matters as well. Implants wait until the jaw has finished growing, so they are not placed in teenagers, and surgery is usually postponed during pregnancy.
The Final Thoughts
If the quiz suggested implants might suit you, the clearest next move is a short assessment. You do not need to have every answer before you call. That is what the assessment is for. Contact us or call (647) 696-9294, and you will get a straight read on what is possible.
We are on Lawrence Ave East, open evenings during the week and on Saturdays. We welcome new patients across Scarborough, Wexford, and Maryvale.
