Most adults with healthy gums, adequate jawbone, and reasonably controlled medical conditions are candidates for dental implants. A complete evaluation reviews three areas: bone volume on a 3D CBCT scan, gum and periodontal health, and overall medical history including diabetes control, medications, and smoking. Even patients told no elsewhere often qualify after bone grafting or periodontal therapy.

At Fresh Smile Dental Care on Royal Lane, we hear the same worry almost every week. Someone walks in convinced they cannot have implants because of their age, their diabetes, or a missing tooth they have been living with for ten years. Most of the time, that worry is wrong. Candidacy is a checklist, not a verdict.

Here is what we actually look at during a consultation, and what you can self-assess before you book.

What does a dentist check to see if I can get implants?

Three things. Your jawbone. Your gums. Your overall health.

The evaluation starts with a CBCT 3D scan, which is the standard of care for pre-implant imaging according to the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology. The scan gives us exact measurements of bone height, bone width, and the location of nerves and sinuses. We can see in millimeters what a 2D X-ray would only suggest.

Next comes periodontal probing to check for active gum disease, followed by a medical history review covering diabetes, blood thinners, bisphosphonates, autoimmune conditions, and current medications. A 75-year-old retired engineer who lives near the Asian Trade District and walks two miles a day may be a stronger candidate than a 45-year-old with uncontrolled blood sugar. Health beats age every time.

Do I have enough jawbone for an implant?

This is the question that scares people the most, and it is also the most fixable.

When a tooth is lost, the bone underneath starts to shrink because nothing is stimulating it anymore. According to research published by Schropp and colleagues in the International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry, up to 25% of the alveolar bone width is lost within the first year after extraction if no implant or graft is placed. That number compounds. A tooth missing for five or ten years often has significantly less bone than a fresh extraction site.

That does not end the conversation. It starts it.

If your CBCT shows thin or short bone, we have options. A bone graft rebuilds width. A sinus lift adds height in the upper back jaw. Computer-guided implant surgery, which Dr. Yeo has taught as a live-surgery instructor for both DIO Implant and Hiossen, lets us place implants in narrower ridges with sub-millimeter precision. Patients who were told no somewhere else often hear a different answer once we have the 3D data in front of us.

Can I get implants if I have gum disease?

Yes, but not on day one.

Active periodontitis has to be treated and stabilized first. The American Academy of Periodontology identifies active gum disease as a significant risk factor for peri-implantitis, which is the leading cause of late implant failure. Placing an implant into infected gum tissue is like building a house on a flooded foundation.

The fix is usually scaling and root planing, sometimes followed by a few months of monitoring. Once the gums are tight, pink, and free of active infection, most patients move forward without issue. We have seen plenty of patients in their fifties and sixties who came in for an implant consult and left with a periodontal plan first. Three months later, they were ready.

What medical conditions affect implant candidacy?

Most of them do not disqualify you. They just change the plan.

Diabetes. Per the Journal of Periodontology and AAP position papers, patients with well-controlled diabetes (HbA1c generally under 7-8%) have implant success rates comparable to non-diabetic patients. Uncontrolled diabetes is a different conversation, and we will ask you to coordinate with your physician first.

Blood thinners. Usually manageable. We work with your cardiologist on timing.

Bisphosphonates and chemotherapy. These need careful review. Oral bisphosphonates for osteoporosis are often fine. IV bisphosphonates and active chemo raise the risk profile substantially.

Smoking. Cochrane Reviews and Journal of Dental Research meta-analyses have shown smoking roughly doubles the risk of implant failure. It is not an automatic no, but we will ask you to cut back or quit around the surgery window.

Are there age limits for dental implants?

No upper limit. The American Academy of Implant Dentistry is explicit on this: medical status, not age, determines candidacy.

There is a lower limit. The jaw has to be fully grown, which usually means late teens to early twenties. Below that, an implant placed in a still-developing jaw can end up in the wrong position years later.

Most candidates Dr. Yeo evaluates in the Koreatown Dallas corridor are between 40 and 75. We have placed implants in healthy patients well into their eighties. We have also told otherwise healthy 50-year-olds to come back after they stabilize their gum disease. Numbers on a birthday card do not decide.

What habits should I change before getting an implant?

A few small changes raise your success rate meaningfully.

• Stop or reduce smoking ideally two weeks before surgery and two months after.

• Tighten up your flossing and brushing. Daily, not occasional.

• Treat bruxism with a night guard before we load the implant. Grinding forces are brutal on new implants.

• Address sleep apnea if it applies. Poor oxygenation at night affects healing.

None of this is dramatic. It is just the boring stuff that works.

Candidacy is a checklist, not a verdict. Most patients told no somewhere else qualify once we have a 3D scan and a real plan in front of us.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does an implant candidacy evaluation take?

A first consult at our Royal Lane office typically runs 45 to 60 minutes, including the CBCT 3D scan, periodontal exam, and a review of your medical history. You leave with a clear answer on whether you are a candidate today, whether you need preparatory treatment first, or whether implants are not the right path for you.

What if I'm told I don't have enough bone, am I out of options?

Almost never. Bone grafting and sinus lifts can rebuild missing volume in most patients, and computer-guided surgery allows us to work with narrower ridges than older techniques. We routinely see patients who were turned away elsewhere and find a workable path forward after a fresh evaluation.

Can I get an implant if I take blood thinners?

Usually yes. We coordinate with your physician or cardiologist on whether and when to adjust your medication around the procedure. Many patients on warfarin, Eliquis, or low-dose aspirin go through implant surgery without changing their regimen at all.

Does insurance cover the evaluation and 3D scan?

Coverage varies widely by plan. Some plans cover the diagnostic exam and a portion of the CBCT scan, while others apply the cost toward your annual maximum. Our front desk will verify your benefits before your visit so there are no surprises.

How soon after a tooth extraction can I be evaluated for an implant?

You can be evaluated immediately. In some cases we can place the implant the same day as the extraction. In others we wait six to twelve weeks for the site to heal before placement. The CBCT scan tells us which path fits your specific anatomy.

If you are weighing implants and want a straight answer about your candidacy, Fresh Smile Dental Care is two blocks from the DART Green Line Royal Lane Station in the heart of Dallas Koreatown. Call us at (214) 623-0880 and we will get you on the schedule. Bilingual care available in English, Korean, and Spanish.