Am I Suitable for Dental Implants?

Who Can Have Dental Implants?

Most adults with missing teeth are a suitable candidate for dental implant treatment in London, provided they have sufficient bone density and healthy gum tissues to support the fixture. Specialists determine eligibility by using 3D CBCT imaging to map the jaw and computer-guided implant surgery to ensure precise placement. Whether you need a Single Dental Implant or a full-arch restoration, the primary requirement is a stable biological foundation.

Suitability is judged more strictly at London Dental Specialists's clinic because our assessments are led by a specialist periodontist, Dr Opeoluwa Sodeinde. This training matters because an implant depends on the same tissues a periodontist is trained to diagnose and surgically treat. We use bone and soft-tissue grafting to create a viable site for those who lack natural volume. It's a precise science.

Who is a suitable candidate for dental implants?

• Adults with healthy gums or those who have successfully completed treatment for gum disease.
• Patients with sufficient jawbone volume to support a fixture or those eligible for bone regeneration.
• Individuals in generally good health, as most medical conditions are manageable with a tailored plan.
• Patients who have finished their natural jaw growth, typically those aged 18 and over.

Suitability depends on the quality of the supporting structures. We use 3D CBCT imaging and computer-guided surgery to assess bone density with precision. This technology allows us to identify exactly where an implant can be placed for maximum stability. If bone is insufficient, London Dental Specialists's implant service incorporates bone and soft-tissue grafting to rebuild the site. These protocols can make the procedure viable for patients previously told they lacked enough volume.

A reliable assessment needs real skill. It requires a deep understanding of the periodontium. Dr Opeoluwa Sodeinde holds an MClinDent in Periodontics from King's College London (Guy's Hospital). This is a full-time clinical master's focused on the gums and bone. This training supports a rigorous diagnosis of the supporting tissue. The implant's long-term survival relies substantially on the health of these tissues.

Who is not an ideal candidate?

Certain health factors can act as a contraindication, meaning the risk of implant failure outweighs the benefits. These barriers are often temporary. London Dental Specialists's consultant-level specialists identify these risks during the initial assessment to ensure the Straumann implants we place have the best possible environment for osseointegration.

• Uncontrolled gum disease is a primary barrier, but it is treatable through specialist periodontal therapy before implants are placed.
• Heavy smoking or vaping increases the risk of peri-implantitis, though reducing intake can improve the prognosis.
• Patients with uncontrolled diabetes may struggle with healing, whereas those with stable blood glucose levels are usually suitable.
• Some medications that affect bone healing require a case-by-case assessment to determine if the treatment is safe.

A suitability judgment from a periodontist is more rigorous because it focuses on the biological foundation. Dr Opeoluwa Sodeinde holds a BDS (Hons) from Manchester University Dental School and an MSc in Restorative Dentistry from Newcastle University. This training was devoted to the diagnosis and surgical care of the gums and bone. An implant depends on these exact tissues. This training allows for a more precise determination of whether a patient is ready for surgery or needs preparatory care first.

What we assess before saying yes

Bone volume and density

Our 3D CBCT imaging provides a precise map of your jaw's internal structure. This data determines if we can use computer-guided implant surgery or if bone grafting is required to create a stable foundation.

Gum health

Dr Opeoluwa Sodeinde, specialist periodontist, performs a rigorous examination. Peri-implantitis, inflammatory disease of the tissues around an implant, is the leading cause of late implant loss, so this assessment matters. Dr Sodeinde's training includes an MClinDent in Periodontics from King's College London, focused on the bone and gum tissues that support dental implants.

Overall health and medication

Please bring a current medication list and your full medical history to your consultation. These details allow us to identify any systemic factors that might affect your implantology outcomes.

Can you have implants with gum disease?

Implants can be placed once the gum disease is treated and the inflammation is controlled. Placing a fixture into active infection risks failure, so we first stabilise the supporting tissues. This process allows for a safe transition to dental implants with gum disease history.

Our suitability assessments are conducted by a specialist periodontist. Dr Opeoluwa Sodeinde holds an MClinDent in Periodontics from King's College London, a clinical master's focused on the gums and bone that hold teeth. This training is vital because the same tissues that support natural teeth must support an implant. A periodontist identifies subtle signs of instability that a general dentist might miss, ensuring the site is biologically ready for surgery.

If the disease has caused significant loss of supporting structure, we use bone and soft-tissue grafting to rebuild the site. We then employ 3D CBCT imaging to verify the new volume before placing a Straumann implant. This sequence ensures the implant is anchored in healthy, stable tissue rather than diseased bone.

Can you have implants with receding gums?

Whether dental implants with receding gums are suitable depends on whether the underlying bone is stable or can be rebuilt. We assess the level of recession and often treat the soft tissue first to ensure the implant is properly encased. This careful preparation is a standard part of providing dental implants in London at our clinic.

Recession often leaves the implant neck exposed, which increases the risk of peri-implantitis. This inflammatory disease of the tissues around an implant is the leading cause of late implant loss. To prevent this, London Dental Specialists's periodontists use soft-tissue grafting to thicken the gum barrier. We use 3D CBCT imaging to map the exact site before surgery. This ensures the implant is placed with enough tissue coverage to protect the fixture long-term.

Suitability is determined by a specialist periodontist, such as Dr Opeoluwa Sodeinde. A periodontist's training is devoted entirely to the gums and bone that hold teeth. Because this is the same tissue an implant depends on, a periodontist's judgment on recession is stricter than a general dentist's. They are trained specifically in the periodontal surgery required to restore gum volume before an implant is placed.

Smoking, vaping, and healing: what the evidence says

Nicotine restricts blood flow to the gums and jawbone, which slows the natural healing process required for an implant to bond. This chemical interference can hinder osseointegration, the process where bone grows directly onto the implant surface. Blood supply drops. Tissue then struggles to deliver the oxygen and nutrients needed for a stable result.

• Smoking increases the risk of implant failure by compromising the soft tissue seal around the fixture.
• Vaping introduces similar nicotine-related risks to the bloodstream, potentially delaying the recovery of the surgical site.
• Patients who quit nicotine before surgery typically see a higher rate of successful integration.
• Long-term survival for implants remains above 95% over 10 years in published studies for non-smokers.

London Dental Specialists's implant service manages these factors through a strict clinical assessment. We use 3D CBCT imaging to determine if your bone density can support an implant despite a history of smoking. Sometimes the risk is too high. In that case, we may suggest bone and soft-tissue grafting to improve the site before placement. Our page on dental implant risks and how they're managed explains these factors in more detail and allows us to provide a realistic prognosis. Our clinical lead, Dr Opeoluwa Sodeinde, is a specialist periodontist. He trained specifically in the biology of the tissues that support implants. He assesses whether your current healing capacity is sufficient to ensure the implant remains stable for the long term.

How to become a candidate if you are not one today

Many patients can become suitable for treatment after addressing specific biological barriers. London Dental Specialists's implant service focuses on preparing the supporting tissues so that a Straumann fixture has the stability it needs to last. Dr Opeoluwa Sodeinde is a specialist periodontist. This training allows him to identify exactly why a patient is currently unsuitable and which regenerative protocol can fix it.

• Patients with insufficient jaw volume may qualify after bone grafting for dental implants to rebuild the site.
• Those with a sinus cavity too close to the upper jaw can create space through sinus lift treatment.
• Individuals with active gum disease can become candidates once the infection is resolved through our in-house periodontics care.

Dr Sodeinde's research interest in bone and gum regeneration informs how we use autografts, allografts, and xenografts to prepare a site. These materials provide the scaffold required for your own bone to grow back. Most patients find these preparatory steps manageable. We then schedule a consultation for £195 to map out the specific sequence of care.

The £195 consultation fee is credited toward any treatment you go ahead with.

Consultant-level suitability assessments

Suitability is determined by the health of the supporting tissues. Dr Opeoluwa Sodeinde holds an MClinDent in Periodontics from King's College London, a full-time clinical master's focused on the gums and bone. This matters. This means your assessment is performed by a clinician trained specifically in the tissues an implant depends on for stability. London Dental Specialists's implant suitability checks use 3D CBCT imaging and computer-guided surgery to ensure precise placement. We combine this with bone and soft-tissue grafting to address sites that lack sufficient volume.