Everyone aims to have teeth that will serve them their entire life. However, despite the best efforts, you may not save all teeth. A dentist typically recommends a tooth extraction after weighing all the other options. Fortunately, you can still get a prosthetic to replace your natural tooth. A dental implant has a screw attached to the jaw, an abutment and a crown. Here are four ways to tell if you qualify for a dental implant.

You Have a Healthy Jawbone

Your jawbone is where the dentist attaches the titanium screw that acts as the root to the artificial tooth. The jaw has to be in excellent health condition for the implant to work. Often, when you spend years without a tooth, the jaw bone might lose some of its density, making it weaker than when there was a tooth. The dentist will advise you on what you can do when they realise you have little bone density. The professional could recommend a bone graft to increase the density ahead of the implantation procedure. 

You Have Healthy Gums

Healthy gums are the second essential requirement for anyone that wants to get dental implants. First, the implantation procedure is quite invasive. The dentist will cut the gum open to access the jawbone. They might decide not to do it if you have gum disease and other infections that might interfere with recovery. In most cases, they will offer treatment for the gum condition and install the implants when your gums are healthy. Note that getting an implant when you have unhealthy gums could lead to implant failure. 

You Do Not Smoke

Smoking does not rule you out of getting an implant. However, it raises the chances that the dental implant might fail. If you are thinking about getting implants, the best place to start is to quit smoking. Quitting will benefit you in many ways because you do not have to struggle with cravings during recovery. It also restores your jaw and gum health ahead of the procedure, which increases the chance of success. 

You Do Not Have a Blood Clotting Disorder

Bleeding is an expected part of implantation surgery. However, inform the dentist have a blood clotting disorder. They will know how to carry out the procedure while protecting you from excessive bleeding.

Consult a competent dentist about getting a dental implant for your missing teeth. They will help you prepare for the surgery and also guide you through the entire recovery process.