Are you one of the 178 million Americans who are missing at least one tooth? If so, you may have considered rebuilding your smile with dental implants. As versatile and beneficial as this treatment is, it’s not right for everyone. Certain problems might prevent you from being a good candidate for dental implants. Keep reading to learn about five of these issues and how your dentist might be able to resolve them.

Dental implants are widely recognized by both dentists and patients alike as the best way to replace missing teeth. Unlike dentures or a dental bridge, this modern tooth loss solution replaces the entire structure of a missing tooth from the roots to the crown. However, this unique placement requires a multi-step process that involves minor oral surgery. So how long should you plan to stay home from work while your mouth heals? Generally speaking, you’ll need to recover anywhere from one to two days to a week or so before. The nature of your job can also influence this timeline, as a physically demanding job will require more time off than an office job. Read on as we go over the most important factors that will determine how long your recovery period will be.