Many of our patients here at our Katy dental practice choose dental implants for their tooth replacement needs due to its long-term benefits. In addition, they are more reliable in comparison to traditional options such as bridges and dentures. However, there are certain circumstances that may not make you an ideal candidate for dental implants and/or make you wait a bit longer before getting them– one of which includes receding gums.

Understanding Receding Gums

Receding gums, also known as gum recession, is a condition in which the bone that serves as the foundation of your teeth begins to recede, leaving the roots of your teeth exposed. This leads to increased risk of tooth decay and potential loss of your teeth. Furthermore, this could also result in increased tooth sensitivity, making eating more difficult and far from pleasurable.

One of the negative effects of gum recession is significant loss of jaw bone. This occurrence can prevent placement of dental implants. The good news is you can actually have bone grafting as an ancillary procedure before having implants. Patients with extremely receding gums may also need to have a gum graft.

Ultimately, ancillary procedures such as bone and gum grafts may lengthen the timeline of your dental implant treatment. Nevertheless, the condition doesn’t stop you from being a candidate for implants.

Dental Implants at the Welch Dental Group in Katy

Much like for any dental procedure, there is much to learn about dental implants. We encourage you to visit our office to discuss treatment options with implants, their benefits and concerns, as well as just simply being involved in your own care. Learn more about dental implants at our Katy dental practice! Call us at 281.395.2112 or fill out this contact form to schedule an appointment.