Can Dental Implants Improve Your Heart Health, too?

With American Heart Health Month nearing to a close, it’s an important time to highlight the connection between your cardiovascular and oral health. If you’ve been considering replacing missing teeth with dental implants but aren’t sure if they’re safe for patients with heart conditions, keep reading. We’ll tell you what you need to know about how restoring your smile can protect your cardiovascular system, too!

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are the world’s first permanent tooth restoration. These dynamic prosthetics are securely attached to the jawbone via one or more titanium or zirconium posts, where a crown, bridge, or denture is then attached. Dental implants not only look and feel just like your real teeth, they also are fully functional, so you can once again smile, speak clearly, and enjoy a full diet.

How Does Missing Teeth Affect the Heart?

When you’re missing teeth, it can negatively affect many aspects of your life. From being embarrassed to speak and smile, to suffering low self-esteem and depression, it can take a major toll on your mental health. Worse still, it can make you miss out on many nutritious, delicious foods, potentially leading to malnutrition. Finally, it can even harm your cardiovascular health by increasing your risk of gum disease, frequent oral infections, and dangerous oral inflammation that can put your heart in danger.

Can I Get Dental Implants if I Have a Heart Condition?

Many patients wonder if they can still get dental implants if they already have a heart condition. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, the truth is that many patients with cardiovascular issues can still get dental implants. To determine if you’re healthy enough for this treatment, you should schedule a consultation with your dentist and disclose your full medical history. That’s because certain medications like blood thinners, beta-blockers, and cholesterol reduction drugs may affect the healing process. Furthermore, antibiotics may need to begin prior to your surgery to prevent dangerous infections.

Remember, although your new dental implants won’t treat your heart problems, by restoring your healthy smile and maintaining excellent oral hygiene, you can reduce the risks commonly associated with chronic gum infections. To learn more about dental implants and to see if you qualify for this treatment, schedule a consultation with your dentist today.

About Dr. Cline

Dr. Cline earned his undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University-Idaho, and his dental education at Creighton University. Additionally, he has completed nearly 70 hours of continuing education in the last two years alone! If you are interested in learning more about dental implants and how they can benefit your oral and overall health, schedule a consultation with Cline Family & Cosmetic Dentistry of Idaho Falls by visiting our website or calling 208-487-5987.