Who Is Implantation Recommended For and When
Dental implants are today's most versatile and effective solution for replacing missing teeth. However, not everyone is an immediate candidate, and the timing of implantation requires careful consideration. Understanding who is a good candidate and when the right time to proceed is helps patients make informed decisions about their care.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Implants?
In general, any healthy adult with a missing tooth or teeth is a potential implant candidate. The key prerequisites are:
Sufficient bone volume: The implant needs adequate bone into which to integrate. Patients who have been missing teeth for many years may have experienced significant bone resorption and may require bone augmentation before implantation.
Healthy gums: Active gum disease (periodontitis) must be treated and stabilised before implant placement. Implants placed in the presence of active infection have a significantly higher failure rate.
Good general health: Most systemic conditions do not preclude implant treatment, but some require special precautions. Poorly controlled diabetes, bleeding disorders, immunosuppression, and recent bisphosphonate therapy (for osteoporosis) require careful evaluation.
Non-smoking status (preferred): Smoking significantly impairs healing and increases implant failure rates. Patients who smoke are advised to quit before implant treatment.
When Is the Right Time?
After tooth extraction, immediate or early implant placement is possible in selected cases. In most situations, waiting 2–3 months for soft tissue healing before implantation is preferred.
Jaw growth must be complete before implant placement — implants do not move with jaw growth as natural teeth do. For this reason, implants are generally deferred until age 18 (or later for patients whose growth has not yet completed).
At Smilecraft, every implant candidate undergoes a thorough pre-implant assessment, including CBCT imaging, to determine candidacy and plan the optimal treatment approach.
