You may be excited to get a dental implant if you are missing a tooth and feel self-conscious about it. You might have already made an appointment with your dentist to discuss the procedure. However, you need to know that your dentist may ask you to wait before you have an implant installed--and here's a few reasons why.

You Have Current Dental Problems

One of the common reasons that a dentist may be unwilling to put an implant into a patient's mouth is that their current oral health needs to improve first. If you have an untreated cavity, for instance, bacteria buildup could be a risk for any implant site. If the implant site is infected by nearby bacteria, it could cause a serious condition called peri-implantitis, which could mean you could experience jawbone loss.

Cavities aren't the only reason that a delay is indicated. If your gums are bright red, bleed when you brush them and feel inflamed, you might very be in the beginning phase of gum disease. Drilling an implant into inflamed gums could be problematic for a number of reasons. For instance, it might be incredibly painful for you during recovery, even if your mouth is numbed during the procedure. Peri-implantitis is also a concern.

You Regularly Smoke Cigarettes

It probably doesn't surprise you to know that cigarettes affect your health, but if you want a dental implant, it's important that you realize that a smoking habit can impede blood flow to your gums and implant site; as a result, the implant may not be able to anchor properly in your mouth.

Your Bone Density is Low

Because your jaw has to bear the weight of an additional tooth and withstand the pressure of the implanting process, your dentist will want to know that your jawbone is dense enough for the job. However, you might lack the bone density at this time to be eligible for a dental implant.

That can change, however. You can take steps to rectify this situation by consuming foods that contain a great deal of calcium and vitamin D; these substances help build and strengthen bones. The dentist can periodically continue to test your jawbone density so that you know when your jaw is strong enough.

After learning why your dentist might ask you to hold off on a dental implant procedure, you can start right now to take the appropriate actions that could increase the chance of implant success. Ask your dentist to regularly assess your oral health so that when you're ready, you can have the implant done.