Dental Implants For Seniors
Age should not be a hindrance for patients considering dental implants to restore missing teeth. Oral health is a vital factor when it comes to maintaining your overall health and having a complete and fully functioning smile can help ensure that you love your smile and continue eating the foods you enjoy for the rest of your life.
The time and money associated with dental implants may serve to deter senior patients who think they may be better off with a dental bridge or denture but dental implants are actually a healthier option that can also provide a more stable and secure restoration.
What are dental implants?
A dental implant can be used to replace one or more missing teeth, or even an entire arch of teeth, by supporting an individual crown, a dental bridge, or even a full denture. Your dentist will refer you to a periodontist or oral surgeon to have your implant placed. The doctor will make a small incision in the gum tissue and drill a hole directly into your jaw bone and surgically place a titanium implant. The implant, while secured in the bone, protrudes above the gum tissue so that the restoration can be affixed. The implant is given up to six months to heal and integrate with the bone structure. Once your implant is fully healed, your dentist will restore the implant with an abutment and implant crown.
Dental implants are an incredibly natural looking way to restore missing teeth. They are stable and comfortable while speaking and eating and with proper care, can last a lifetime!
What are the advantages of dental implants for senior patients?
Dental implants restore a patient’s ability to speak and eat with confidence and comfort! Dental implants are natural looking and are drastically more stable and secure than traditional dentures. For older patients, being able to enjoy the food they’ve always loved can be a great benefit of dental implants. Sacrificing nutrition can lead to other issues and negatively impact overall health.
Dentures and dental bridges do not support bone health which is another benefit of dental implants. An implant acts as the root of a tooth and helps stimulate bone regeneration, whereas a denture or bridge can contribute to bone deterioration which can change the shape of your face and cause your dental prosthesis to become ill-fitting. A bridge or denture may need to be replaced in as little as five years but may be able to last up to 10. Dental implants can last anywhere from 20 years up to a lifetime. The long-term cost benefits of implant treatment is better than that of bridges and dentures which need to be replaced much more frequently.
Dental implants are one of the best options available to patients to replace missing teeth. Ensuring the health of your remaining teeth along with the confidence and security that comes with dental implants, are all great reasons to consider implants, regardless of your age.