Dental Implants for Seniors
If you’re deciding whether or not to get dental implants as a senior, you’ll want to learn about the benefits and the requirements you need to have permanent dental implants. With age the risk of decay and loss of teeth increases. With implants, seniors can have the opportunity to have a better quality of life with a full smile and the ability to chew their food.
Benefits of dental implants for seniors
- Restored chewing and speaking ability
- Natural appearance
- Better facial structure
- No need to remove your replacement teeth to clean them
The dental issues that come with aging can substantially affect your quality of life. Between your confidence and your ability to eat, traditionally, the solution is either dentures or prostheses. As a senior, dental implants are sometimes the better alternative to dentures. They look more natural and are permanent. With these, you can chew and eat more normally than you could with dentures. Their reliability does not restrict your ability to eat.
There are certain requirements that you need to meet in order to have permanent dental implants. Regardless of whether you are missing one tooth or multiple teeth, these permanent dental implants are your best options. But you need to have a thorough oral and medical check-up by a dental professional to assess your suitability.
If you have chronic, uncontrolled diabetes or any other diseases that negatively impact your body’s immune system, you might not be a good fit for dental implants. The procedure requires surgery and with a poor immune system your recovery period can be delayed.
Loss of bone density can be an issue that requires grafting before you receive the implants. This comes at an additional cost but may be worth it to get the dental implants.
Additionally, you need to be healthy enough for implants or any dental procedure. Healthier patients have faster recovery times which is a key part of qualifying for implants.
As a senior, there is no reason why you should rule out dental implants entirely. After considering the patient’s health overall, your dental professional can help you decide whether or not you should replace your dentures with dental implants.
If you’re interested in learning more about dental implants for seniors, call our office today to schedule an appointment.
