Can I Get Implants With Gum Disease?
in Phoenix, AZ
Yes, but only after the gum disease is under control, and that order is not negotiable with any honest dentist. An implant placed into infected gums inherits the infection: the same bacteria that destroyed the tooth attack the bone around an implant, a condition called peri-implantitis, and it is the main reason implants fail. Treat the gums first, confirm they have settled, then place the implant, and the odds swing strongly in your favor. Dr. Taylor Field at Sonoran Dental Arts in Phoenix evaluates your gums at the exam and sequences both treatments in one written plan. Call (602) 861-0505.
Gum disease is the most common reason the tooth was lost in the first place, so the question comes up constantly. The answer is yes, implants with gum disease are possible, with one firm condition: the disease is brought under control first, and then the implant goes in. This page explains why that order exists and what getting there looks like.
Dr. Taylor Field treats both sides of this at Sonoran Dental Arts in Phoenix: the gum therapy that makes an implant safe, and the implant itself.
Start With the Gums, End With the Tooth
The exam tells you where your gums stand and what order the work goes in. Dr. Field writes the whole sequence down, gum therapy through implant, and nothing starts before your yes.
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Why the Gums Have to Come First
An implant cannot get a cavity, but the gum and bone around it can get infected, and active gum disease means the bacteria that cause that infection are already living next door. Placing an implant into that environment is building on a site that is still burning. Clearing the infection first is what gives the implant a clean site to fuse into, and it is the single biggest thing you can do for its long-term survival.
What Getting It Under Control Looks Like
For most patients the treatment is a deep cleaning, which clears the bacteria from below the gum line where a regular cleaning does not reach. The gums are then given time to heal and re-checked: tightening tissue, less bleeding, shallower pockets. When the re-check shows the disease has settled and your home care is holding it there, the site is ready to plan an implant.
What Gum Disease Does to an Implant Later
Peri-implantitis is gum disease around an implant: the tissue inflames, the bone recedes, and an implant that lost its bone has nothing left to hold it. It is treatable when caught early and hard to reverse when it is not, which is why the daily routine on cleaning around an implant and the regular visits described on implant checkups are part of owning one. Patients with a gum disease history are exactly the patients those two pages are written for.
The Bone Question That Rides Along
Gum disease destroys bone as well as gum, so a site that lost its tooth to periodontitis is often also a site short of bone. The two problems are handled in sequence: control the disease, then rebuild the site with a graft if the 3D image says it needs one. The implants with bone loss page covers that side, and the bone graft page explains the rebuild itself.
How It Works at Sonoran Dental Arts
Dr. Field measures your gums at the exam, takes the 3D image, and writes one plan that covers the order: gum therapy, healing, re-check, then the implant, with the implant fee published at $2,000–$2,400 and every other step named as its own line. Nothing starts before you have agreed to it. Full pricing is on the dental implant cost page.
Helpful Links
Common questions
Can I get a dental implant if I have gum disease?
Yes, after the disease is brought under control. Treating the gums first is what protects the implant, because the same bacteria that cause gum disease attack the bone around implants.
Why can't the implant just be placed now?
Because an implant placed into infected tissue inherits the infection. Peri-implantitis, gum disease around an implant, is the main reason implants fail, and starting in a clean site is the best protection against it.
How is gum disease treated before an implant?
Usually with a deep cleaning that clears bacteria from below the gum line, followed by healing time and a re-check. When the gums have tightened and stopped bleeding, implant planning starts.
How long does gum treatment delay the implant?
Typically a matter of weeks to a few months, depending on how the gums respond. That pause is an investment: it is the difference between an implant placed into a healthy site and one placed into a compromised one.
Can implants get gum disease too?
The implant itself cannot, but the gum and bone around it can, and that condition is called peri-implantitis. Daily cleaning and regular checkups are how implant owners keep it from starting.
I lost teeth to gum disease years ago. Am I still a candidate?
Very likely, once the disease is controlled. Sites lost to periodontitis are often also short of bone, so the 3D image at the exam checks both, and grafting rebuilds the site when it is needed.
Visit Us in Phoenix
Neighborhoods We Serve Near Phoenix, AZ 85020
Your Local Dentist
Patients visit us from neighborhoods across North Central Phoenix, including Squaw Peak, Biltmore Greens, and Dreamy Draw Homes, thanks to our convenient location near Glendale Ave and 16th Street. We are located near Glendale Avenue and 16th Street in the heart of North Central Phoenix, Sonoran Dental Arts proudly serves a wide range of surrounding communities. Whether you’re in the Biltmore area or tucked near the trails of Piestewa Peak, we’re your trusted neighborhood dental provider. Our patients come from:
- Squaw Peak
- Squaw Peak Foothills
- Biltmore Highlands
- Dreamy Draw Homes
- Canterra at Squaw Peak Condominiums
- Lincoln Vista
- Desierto Sierra
- The Pointe
- Biltmore Vista
- Biltmore Greens
- Biltmore Courts
- Biltmore Colony
- Biltmore Villas
- Arizona Biltmore Estates
- Granada Park
- Lincoln Vistas
- Madison Village
- Estate Monterra
- Rolling Hills Estates
- Tonka Vista
- Hopi Vista
- Patio Del Sol
- Torre Blanca
- Royal Crest Villa
- Ocotillo Manor
- Gatewood Manor
- East Orangewood
- Orangewood Heights
- New NorthTown
- Navea Ventura
- La Mirada Condominiums
- Madison Meadows
- Luci’s at the Orchard Area
- Arizona Sunburst Inn vicinity
- Madison Rose Lane Area
- Bethany Estates
- Piestewa Peak Neighborhood
- The Pointe at Squaw Peak Resort Area
- Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Area
- Sprouts Farmers Market Neighborhood (Glendale & 16th)
If you’re located in or near any of these neighborhoods, Dr. Taylor Field and the Sonoran Dental Arts team are here to provide top-quality, patient-centered dental care close to home. Explore our General Dentistry, Family Dentistry, Kids Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Implant Services, Invisalign, and Emergency Dental Care to see how we can serve you.
Life in North Central Phoenix is full. Work commutes. Weekend hikes. Quick dinners with friends. When you’re balancing all that, your smile should be the last thing holding you back. That’s where dental implants come in. They restore confidence. They keep life moving—whether you’re near Squaw Peak, Dreamy Draw, or grabbing coffee by Luci’s at the Orchard.
In the Squaw Peak Foothills and Dreamy Draw Homes, mornings often start outdoors. The trails are busy, the sun comes up fast, and neighbors are out early. Missing teeth or a loose denture can make those moments feel smaller than they should. Dental implants bring stability back. You laugh without worry. You share a trail snack or coffee and feel like yourself again.
The Biltmore neighborhoods have their own rhythm. Biltmore Highlands, Arizona Biltmore Estates, Biltmore Greens, Biltmore Vista—here life is busy and polished. Business lunches at the Biltmore, family nights out, evenings with friends. Implants fit naturally into this lifestyle because they look and function like real teeth. You don’t think about them. You just live.
Closer to Granada Park or Madison Meadows, afternoons mean school pickups, sports practices, and grocery stops. Families move quickly. Nobody wants dental care that slows everything down. With implants, you can eat the meals you want, smile without hesitation, and get back to what matters. No adhesives. No slipping. Just strong, reliable teeth.
Evenings near Lincoln Vista, Tonka Vista, and Rolling Hills Estates are for winding down. Neighbors chat. Kids ride bikes. Dinner happens at home or a favorite local spot. For many, enjoying those meals fully wasn’t always possible. Implants change that. Steak, crunchy veggies, fresh bread—they’re all back on the table. Life tastes better again.
Weekends at The Pointe Resort or gatherings near Canterra at Squaw Peak Condominiums bring people together. It’s laughter in photos. It’s toasts at celebrations. It’s casual moments that deserve a confident smile. Implants give you that. They don’t come out. They don’t shift. They’re built to last.
This community is close-knit. From East Orangewood to Navea Ventura, from Torre Blanca to Patio Del Sol, people share recommendations. A dental office earns trust when care feels personal. Dental implants are more than a procedure—they’re a step toward comfort, security, and enjoying life in the neighborhoods you love.
Living near Piestewa Peak or the Glendale and 16th Street corridor means convenience matters. You want treatment that’s close to home, not across town. Implants make long-term dental health simple. They protect your jaw, preserve your smile, and free you from constant repairs.
If you’re in Squaw Peak, Dreamy Draw, the Biltmore communities, or any of the neighborhoods nearby, know that implants are an option designed for real life here. Strong. Natural. Lasting. A solution that fits where you live, eat, play, and connect. That’s how dental implants help you keep pace with Phoenix—and enjoy every part of it.