Why Candidacy Should Come First
A missing or failing tooth is stressful enough. Then come the ads: implants "as low as" some enticing number, smiling models, financing offers. It is tempting to book surgery immediately. But candidacy is the gating decision. Implants require your body to accept a small artificial root placed in the jawbone — a process dentists call osseointegration. If your jawbone, gums, or general health cannot support that process, the implant may fail, and no amount of attractive pricing changes that.
Checking candidacy first saves wasted consultations, false expectations, and pressure-filled sales conversations. It also reveals whether preliminary steps, such as bone grafting, come first. That is why screening, not price, should be your first conversation.
What "Candidacy" Actually Means
Candidacy is not a yes-or-no verdict you can self-diagnose. It is a risk profile a licensed dentist or oral surgeon builds from your exam, imaging, and medical history. The dentist is asking one underlying question: can the jawbone accept an implant and allow it to integrate over time?
Because the implant replaces the tooth root, the bone around it needs adequate volume and quality. Your gums must be healthy enough to support the site. And your overall health must allow healing. Those three areas — bone, gums, and systemic health — are evaluated together, not as isolated checkboxes. Borderline results do not automatically mean "no"; they may mean "not yet."
The Main Factors Dentists Evaluate: Bone, Gums, and Overall Health
Bone volume and quality. Dentists assess how much bone remains where the implant would go; after tooth loss, the area can change over time. If there is too little, grafting may be discussed.
Gum health. A dentist will check for inflammation, pockets, and signs of periodontal problems, since the condition of the gums around the site shapes treatment planning.
Overall health and habits. Your medical history, current medications, and lifestyle are reviewed because they influence healing. Exactly how conditions such as diabetes or habits such as smoking affect your outcome depends on your situation, so discuss it with your clinician — not a website.
Health Conditions and Habits That Change the Risk Profile
Certain factors raise the complexity of implant treatment without disqualifying you outright. Dentists commonly review:
- Smoking: the treating team will ask about your habit and explain how it factors into their planning for your case.
- Diabetes: how well your blood sugar is managed is usually part of the conversation.
- Medications: bring a complete list, including supplements, so the team can review everything before planning.
- Osteoporosis or related conditions: bone health is central to implant planning, so your dentist may coordinate with your physician.
The important point: these are screening topics, not automatic rejections. How any of them affects your case is an individualized clinical judgment, so expect the conversation to be personalized rather than scripted. No reputable source can tell you "yes" or "no" without examining you.
What a Real Implant Consultation Includes
A genuine candidacy screening is more than a quick look and a price sheet. Expect:
- A dental exam of the missing-tooth site and surrounding teeth and gums.
- A review of your medical history and medication list.
- Imaging — often a 3D CBCT scan — to measure bone volume and inspect the site.
- A written treatment plan describing recommended steps, including any grafting, and the associated process.
If the dentist rushes past these steps or quotes a final outcome before imaging, slow down. The screening is also your opportunity to interview the provider, not just be sold to. A thorough consultation should feel like a dialogue, not a pitch.
If You Are Not an Ideal Candidate: Grafting and Alternatives
A borderline result does not mean implants are impossible. Two common pathways exist:
Bone grafting or sinus augmentation. If bone volume is insufficient, grafting can sometimes build up the site. This adds a step and extends the timeline, so expect a longer process than the ad suggested.
Alternative tooth replacement. If implants are not appropriate, bridges, partial dentures, or conventional dentures may remain realistic options. Your dentist should explain why an alternative fits your situation better — and should not pressure you into an implant if your anatomy or health argues against it.
Questions to Ask Before You Commit
Bring this checklist to your consultation:
- What makes me a candidate or not, based on my bone, gums, and health?
- Do I need bone grafting, and how does that change my timeline?
- What are the realistic risks for someone with my medical history?
- Can I have a written treatment plan that separates the steps and costs?
- What happens if the implant does not integrate — what is the follow-up policy?
- Is a second opinion encouraged or resisted?
The answers reveal as much about the provider as about your candidacy.
Red Flags in Implant Marketing
Beware marketing that promises anyone qualifies, guarantees outcomes, or demands same-day decisions. Vague pricing claims ("as low as") rarely reflect your individual treatment, and pressure tactics are incompatible with careful screening. If a provider dismisses your questions, minimizes your history, or discourages a second opinion, walk away. Reputable practices welcome informed patients.
Bottom Line and Next Steps
Your first step is not a payment plan — it is a consultation with a licensed dentist or oral surgeon who can examine you, review imaging, and map your risk profile. This article is educational only and not a substitute for that examination. No dental-specific clinical sources were available for this piece, so its claims must be verified against current published guidance from organizations such as the ADA and AAOMS; costs, coverage, and outcomes also vary by provider, region, and patient. Bring your medication list, ask for a written plan, and get a second opinion if anything feels rushed. Good screening protects your health and your money.
研究の知恵