How Old is Too Old for Dental Implants
Dental implants are a great alternative to traditional partial or full dentures if you need to replace missing teeth. An artificial titanium root is inserted into the jawbone, effectively replacing the natural tooth’s root. A replacement tooth is then attached to the implant, helping your smile look better than ever.
When considering whether to get an implant or opt for dentures, many potential candidates fear their age may impact their eligibility for dental implants. Knowing how age may affect the procedure is key to determining if dental implants are right for you.
How old is too old for dental implants?
Contrary to popular belief, no age is too old for dental implants. Dental implants can help improve the quality of life for people of all ages, even if their life expectancy is considered short. The periodontists at LESPARODONTISTES have even successfully placed implants in patients in their late eighties.
There is no reason to live the rest of your life in discomfort when implants offer a safe and efficient solution to missing teeth.
Are the elderly good candidates for dental implants?
The success rate for dental implants in the elderly is just as impressive for those of middle-aged adults. They have a high success rate in people 85 years and older, and the recovery period typically takes the same amount time as in younger patients.
Conditions common with the elderly, such as osteoporosis, have not been known to negatively impact the success of implants. In certain cases, based on the treatment plan devised with the periodontist and dentist, even if the patient has significant bone loss, dental implants can be inserted successfully without the need for bone grafting.
What is better: implants or traditional dentures?
Most dentists and periodontists will recommend dental implants over dentures to eligible patients, as implants are quickly becoming the standard of care for the replacement of missing teeth.
Dentures permit the progression of bone resorption and can severely affect the patient’s ability to chew food. Many patients are embarrassed to eat in public with friends due to their denture instability. Dentures must take them out before bed and regularly cleaned which many people do not appreciate.
Dental implants avoid these setbacks and offer a more convenient solution that does not compromise the patient’s lifestyle or health.
What is the recovery from dental implants like?
Though dental implants are a surgical procedure, it is usually gentle and stress-free. The recovery time is often faster and easier than with teeth extraction.
The patient may experience discomfort for up to five days after the procedure, but the pain is easily manageable with Tylenol or Advil. In some cases, where the bone is very hard, the new replacement tooth can also be added the same day as the implants with a fixed denture, or your dentist may wait 2-3 months for the implant to fully heal before it supports the new teeth.
Do not let age stop you from considering dental implants in place of traditional dentures. Book an appointment with a periodontist today if you want to learn if this procedure is right for you.