Dental implants for Seniors don’t have an age limit, and it’s never too late to love your smile and enjoy your favorite foods again. If you thought should not get dental implants due to your age or that you couldn’t because of bone loss and other health concerns.
Well, there’s good news! Dental implants are just as effective and long-lasting in older patients as they are in younger ones. Dental implants can change the lives of older patients for the better, giving them more confidence and improved physical and mental health. In this article, we’ll talk about “how old is too old for dental implants”.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants allow for tooth replacement usually multiple dental implants are required for seniors and are essentially as good as your current tooth in that:
- The implant/crown is self-supporting and not reliant on or damage to your other teeth
- The implant/crown is fixed to your jaw like a tooth root
- The implant/crown is long-lasting in well-maintained mouths, it may outlast all other dental treatments
- The implant/crown is looked after with standard oral hygiene techniques tooth brushing/flossing/dental check-ups
Dental implants are made of commercial-grade titanium; this material has been proven to be inert in humans and promotes bone cell growth directly onto the surface of the implant, thus creating the perfect tooth root replacement to support new crowns or dentures for patients.
Dental Implants For Seniors Is Worth It?
As you age though, you may love to socialize, eat good food, and share great times with family and friends, without the embarrassment and difficulty that comes with the use of dentures. The quality of life is very important at this stage, and dentists can contribute greatly to improving it. Dental implants dramatically improve the quality of life in older patients by letting them eat better, get better nutrition, stay more social, and lead active and healthy lifestyles.
Dental implants can be as effective in older people, whether 85 or 90 years old, and heal with similar predictability as in younger patients. Ask your cosmetic dentist about the hygiene benefits gains, and recommend dental implants rather than dentures in most patients, including older ones. Dental implants are the standard of care for the replacement of missing teeth.
So, no age is too old for dental implants. A reasonably healthy person with even a few years of life expectancy can safely and predictably have dental implants, thereby improving the quality of their life. A 2004 study reviewed success rates after 5 years for dental implants in patients over 80 years and those that were under 80. This study found that the two groups had the same success rates.
When dentists evaluate older patients for the possibility of getting dental implants, they look at the following factors:
- General health
- Oral health
- Bone health
- Medications
Seniors recover from dental implant surgery at a somewhat slower rate than younger patients meaning we often wait 4 months to place the teeth rather than 3. A highly trained dentist will ensure that the process is as gentle as possible. Like all patients, older patients may experience discomfort for 3 to 5 days, but this can be treated with mild painkillers and anti-inflammatory medicines. Most patients eat soft foods until it is comfortable enough to start a normal diet.
Conclusion
No matter how old your age, the investment in dental implants is one to last a lifetime. The high 98% success rate is greater than any other modern tooth replacement, making implants a preferred choice for people who have missing teeth. If you’re worried that you’re too old to get dental implants, you’re not. You deserve just as healthy and functional of a smile today as you did when you were younger. Your dental health literally impacts every aspect of your day-to-day life.