Indications and
Contraindications
Below you can find a list of
conditions or circumstances which might be considered either unfavorable
(Contraindications) or favorable (Indications) for Implant Reconstruction.
Please keep in mind that a
contraindication does not necessarily mean that implants can absolutely not be placed. In
our context a contraindication may indicate a less than optimal success rate for Oral
Implants!
The Hyperlinks on certain names
will take you to the Glossary page, where these terms
are explained in more detail.
Contraindications:
Let's go over the
contraindications first. Many patients that seem to have adequate space or bone may not
necessarily meet the criteria for optimal candidates for implants:
Patients with endocrine
disorders, such as uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus, Pituitary and Adrenal insufficiency and Hypothyroidism may experience considerable healing
problems.
Patients with uncontrolled
granulomatous diseases, such as Tuberculosis and Sarcoidosis may also have a poor healing response to
surgical procedures.
Patients with cardiovascular
diseases, such as Arteriosclerosis with angina, Aortitis with marked aortic insufficiency, or Aortic Aneurysms don't usually have a problem with
healing, but may pose a management problem in elective surgeries.
Patients with bone diseases, such
as Histiocytosis X, Paget's
Disease and Fibrous Dysplasia may not be good
candidates for implants, because there is a higher chance for the implant to fail due to
poor osseointegration.
Finally, patients with
uncontrolled hematologic disorders such as Generalized Anemias,
Hemophilia (Factor VIII deficiency), Factor IX, X and XII deficiencies and any other acquired
coagulation disorders are contraindicated to surgical procedures due to poor hemorrhage
control.
A patient who smokes regularly is
a definite contraindication! Numerous studies have shown that the success rate of implants
drops sharply in heavy smokers.
Indications:
Generally any edentulous
(toothless) area can be an indication for dental implants. A decision has to be made
whether it is a good idea based on the patients requirements and expectations, the amount
of additional procedures required (bone grafting etc.), the doctors skill level and the
long term prognosis.
It is generally a good idea to
assume that a toothless area can be considered a future implant site, however your doctor
will give you better insight as to weather alternative, more conventional treatment
options would be a better choice in your individual situation.
