Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants? Complete Assessment

Dental implants are the most stable long-term way to replace missing teeth — but they are not right for everyone. This guide explains who makes a good candidate, what can complicate treatment, and how we assess suitability at Taki Dent.

Who is usually a good candidate

Adults with one or more missing teeth, enough healthy jaw bone (or the option of grafting), healthy gums and reasonable general health are typically good candidates. Age itself is rarely a barrier; overall health and bone quality matter far more.

What can complicate treatment

Implants may not be recommended, or may need extra planning, in cases of uncontrolled diabetes, active untreated gum disease, heavy smoking (which raises failure rates), recent head-and-neck radiotherapy, or certain bone medicines (bisphosphonates). In children whose jaws are still growing, implants are usually delayed. None of these are automatic disqualifications — they are reasons to plan carefully.

Bone: the key factor

An implant needs enough bone to hold it securely. Where bone has been lost after extractions or gum disease, options include bone grafting or a sinus lift in the upper jaw, or an angled-implant approach such as All-on-4 that makes the most of existing bone. A cone-beam CT (CBCT) scan shows exactly how much bone is available.

How we assess you

Assessment starts with your medical history and a clinical examination, supported by a 3D CBCT scan. We check bone volume and density, the position of nerves and the sinus, gum health, and your bite. Crucially, we also check whether any natural tooth can realistically be saved instead — preserving a healthy tooth is usually preferable to replacing it.

What you will receive

You get a written treatment plan and quotation setting out the recommended implant system (we use brands such as Straumann and Nobel Biocare), the number of visits, and any preparatory work such as grafting. Implant surgery is performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, with the crown designed and fitted by our specialist prosthodontist, Dr Sadık Taki (Ministry of Health specialty registration 61875).

Success and honesty about risk

Independent research reports around 90–95% implant survival at 10 years (Howe et al., Journal of Dentistry, 2019). We will always tell you honestly if an implant is not the best option for you, and what the realistic alternatives are.

To find out whether you are a candidate, contact Taki Dent for a free assessment. We will review your case and give you a clear, written answer — see our prices page for indicative costs.