Last updated: September 2026
Most people who ask about dental implants have already decided they want one. The question they actually need answered first is whether their jaw, their health and their circumstances make it a realistic option.
Implants work well for most people. But "most" is not "all," and the assessment process exists to tell you which group you fall into before anyone picks up a drill.
An implant is a titanium post placed into the jawbone. For it to succeed, the bone needs to accept and integrate with it over several months. That process, called osseointegration, depends on three broad categories:
None of these is a simple yes or no. Each sits on a spectrum, and that is why an in-person assessment matters more than a checklist on the internet.
When a tooth is lost or extracted, the bone that used to support it begins to resorb. The longer the gap has been there, the more bone may have been lost. This is why someone who lost a tooth five years ago may have a different situation from someone whose tooth was extracted last month.
Bone loss does not automatically rule you out. It changes what needs to happen first. If there is not enough bone to hold a fixture, a bone graft can rebuild the site. Grafting adds time and cost to the overall treatment, but it makes implants possible for people who would otherwise not be candidates.
The upper jaw (maxilla) and the lower jaw (mandible) also behave differently. Upper jaw bone is typically less dense, and the sinus cavity sits close to the roots of the upper back teeth. Sometimes a sinus lift is needed to create space for a fixture in that area.
A standard dental X-ray shows bone height but not width. For implant planning, you need to see the bone in three dimensions. That is what a cone beam CT (CBCT) scan does. Ours is on site at 59 Wicklow Ave, so the scan happens during your appointment rather than as a separate visit to a radiology practice in Ringwood or Box Hill. The dentist planning the case is the one looking at the scan, which avoids the back-and-forth of sending images between locations.
The CBCT shows exactly how much bone is available at the planned implant site, where the nerves and sinuses are, and whether grafting would be needed. It turns what would otherwise be an educated guess into a measured decision.
"Affect" does not mean "prevent." Most of the conditions on this list change the conversation rather than ending it.
Well-managed diabetes (typically an HbA1c below 8) is compatible with implant treatment. Poorly controlled diabetes impairs healing and increases infection risk, both of which can compromise osseointegration. Your dentist will want to see a recent HbA1c result and may coordinate with your GP or endocrinologist.
Osteoporosis itself does not prevent implants, but some medications used to treat it, particularly long-term bisphosphonates (oral or intravenous), affect how jaw bone heals after surgery. The risk is a condition called osteonecrosis of the jaw, which is uncommon but serious. Your dentist needs to know the specific medication, the dose and how long you have been on it.
This is particularly relevant along the Maroondah corridor, where a significant proportion of the population is post-menopausal and may be taking bone-density medications. It does not mean an implant is off the table, but it means the decision requires more information.
Radiotherapy to the head and neck area affects jaw bone healing. Chemotherapy can suppress the immune system. If you are in active treatment or have completed it recently, timing matters. Your dentist will want to coordinate with your oncologist.
Implant placement is a surgical procedure and involves bleeding. If you take anticoagulants (warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban) or antiplatelet medications, your dentist needs to know. The medication is usually not stopped, but the surgical plan may be adjusted.
Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, particularly if treated with immunosuppressant medications, can affect healing. This is a conversation, not a disqualification.
Smoking is the single most significant modifiable risk factor for implant failure. It constricts blood vessels in the gums, reduces oxygen delivery to the healing site, and roughly doubles the failure rate compared to non-smokers. That is not a moral judgement. It is a clinical reality your dentist will discuss with you.
Reducing or quitting before surgery and during the healing period improves outcomes. If stopping completely is not realistic, your dentist will factor it into the treatment plan and the conversation about likely outcomes.
Bruxism places heavy forces on implant crowns. It does not prevent placement, but it may mean wearing a night splint to protect the investment. Your dentist will check for signs of grinding during the assessment.
Implants cannot get cavities, but the gum tissue around them can become infected (peri-implantitis), which leads to bone loss and eventual implant failure. If your oral hygiene is poor, that needs to be addressed before an implant is placed. Putting a fixture into a mouth with active gum disease is setting it up to fail.
The assessment is not a commitment to treatment. It is the process of finding out whether treatment is feasible and what it would involve for your specific case.
For patients coming from Bayswater, Heathmont, Kilsyth or Mooroolbark, the fact that the imaging and the consultation happen in one appointment on Wicklow Ave means one trip rather than two. Croydon station is a short walk away on the Lilydale line for those coming from further along the corridor.
Sometimes the assessment shows that a different approach suits better. A bridge may be preferable if the neighbouring teeth already need crowns. A denture may be the practical choice if multiple teeth are missing across the arch. Our comparison of implants versus dentures covers those trade-offs.
The point of the assessment is to find the right option, not to confirm the one you came in expecting.
If you want to know where you stand, the next step is a consultation. Call (03) 9725 8040 or book online. Full information on the treatment is on our dental implants page.
This article is general information about dental implant candidacy and is not personal dental advice. Your dentist will assess your individual clinical circumstances before recommending treatment.