When it comes to replacing missing teeth, dental implants are an increasingly popular option, restoring your smile and your confidence. If you’re older, though, you might be wondering if implants are still an option — or if your age means you’ll have to choose an alternative, like dentures or bridges.
At Park Place Smiles, Minal Patel, DDS, helps patients of all ages understand their options regarding replacing one or more missing teeth. In this post, learn whether older age is a consideration when it comes to choosing dental implants and what other factors may come into play.
While dentures and bridges rest on top of your gums, dental implants are designed to mimic the structure of a natural tooth. An implant consists of a post, an artificial tooth, and (sometimes) a third piece that attaches the post to the artificial tooth.
The post is embedded in your jaw where it acts like a tooth root to anchor the artificial tooth. Posts can also be used to attach an entire row of teeth if you need to replace all your upper teeth or all your lower teeth.
Because they’re designed like natural teeth, dental implants can feel a lot more comfortable and more natural, right from the start. There’s also no risk of slipping or sore spots and no dietary restrictions, plus you can care for them just like you care for the rest of your teeth, with regular brushing, flossing, and professional cleanings.
Best of all, you can have implants at any age — being older isn’t a problem when replacing your missing teeth with state-of-the-art dental implants. That said, it’s important to have good oral and overall health, too. Before recommending implants, Dr. Patel performs a comprehensive exam with detailed imaging studies to ensure implants are the best choice for you.
While older age isn’t necessarily a limiting factor when wanting to get implants, consider these issues before opting for implant surgery:
Since implants are anchored in your jawbone, it’s important to have healthy jaws thick enough to support the implant. Many people lose bone tissue as they age or as a result of disease or prior tooth loss. Others may have naturally thin or less dense jawbones.
The good news: In most cases, a thin or weak jawbone can be supplemented with a bone graft, using a tiny amount of bone material to augment your existing bone tissue. The graft eventually fuses with your natural bone and can often be placed in your jaw at the same time as your implant post.
Even though implants are artificial, they still require healthy surrounding tissue to maintain their integrity, just like a natural tooth. If you have advanced gum disease or a disease that affects your jaws or your bones (like osteoporosis), those issues will need to be managed before your implant surgery. If you have a medical condition that impairs your healing responses, dentures might be a better choice.
Tobacco products can compromise your dental implant, too, or interfere with healing following implant placement. If you use tobacco, it’s a good idea to quit before implant placement.
In addition, you may not be a good candidate if you grind your teeth since grinding can put excess strain on the implant, weakening its attachment. Night guards can help reduce strain and protect your implant (and your natural teeth, too).
If you’re missing one or more teeth, replacement is critical, regardless of whether you opt for dental implants, dentures, or bridges. Missing teeth alter your bite balance, your facial appearance, and your oral health, and without treatment, you can wind up with more serious complications.
To learn more about dental implants and other tooth-replacement solutions, book an appointment online or over the phone with Park Place Smiles in Glendora, California, today.
