Dental Implants for Senior Citizens

Oral health is critical at all stages of life, but especially for senior citizens. Unfortunately, aging brings a variety of oral health concerns, including tooth loss.

There are several factors that can cause or contribute to tooth loss including tooth decay, general wear and tear, gum disease, and more. This can have a significant impact on a senior’s ability to eat, speak, and smile, as well as their overall quality of life and well-being.

The good news is that advancements in dental technology have led to a variety of options for tooth replacement. Dentures are often the “go-to” because they are the most affordable in most cases. However, the American Dental Association recommends dental implants for adult patients because they offer a variety of advantages over other options.

The team at Amores Dental offers a variety of dental services for patients of all ages, including dental implants for senior citizens. This article explains what you need to know about dental implants and the benefits they offer for senior oral health.

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are the gold standard of tooth replacement. These devices contain three parts:

• Metal post/screw: inserted into the jawbone to create a stable base for the prosthetic tooth, typically made of titanium
• Abutment: connects the crown or prosthetic tooth, to the metal post/screw
• Crown: attaches to the metal post/screw with the abutment, replaces the crown, or visible portion, of the tooth

The process for getting dental implants is extensive, usually taking 6 months or longer from start to finish. However, the results are well worth the time and effort required.

What Qualifications Are Required for Dental Implants?

In order to qualify for dental implants, patients must be over the age of 18. This ensures that the jaw has stopped growing/changing. However, there is no upper age limit at this time.

The biggest factors in determining whether a patient qualifies for dental implant surgery are:

• Health
• Bone density
• Ability to heal after surgery

Patients must be healthy and free from underlying health conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes, heart disease, and others. In some cases, their general doctor or specialist may be able to team up with the dental team to ensure a successful procedure.

Patients must have adequate bone density to support a dental implant. If there has been some jawbone deterioration, the patient must be healthy enough to undergo bone grafting surgery to restore the lost density.

Patients must be able to heal following surgery. If they have conditions that deter healing, they may not be eligible for dental implants.

Benefits of Dental Implants for Seniors

There are several benefits of dental implants for senior citizens, including:

Improved Quality of Life

Dental implants restore the ability to eat a wide variety of foods without worrying about pain or dentures falling out. Since they are able to eat more foods, their overall health and nutrition are improved.

Enhanced Speech

Missing teeth leave gaps in the mouth, which alter the way air moves through. This can have an impact on speech patterns and can make it difficult to speak clearly. Dental implants fill the gaps, which restores a more natural speech pattern- which improves their ability to speak.

Improved Self-Esteem

Missing teeth can have an impact on confidence. While dentures can help improve this aspect, dental implants are a more natural-looking option, which boosts confidence and improves overall well-being.

Durable

Dentures and bridges have a life expectancy and usually need to be replaced after some time. However, dental implants are designed to last a lifetime. In some cases, the crown may need to be replaced, but the portion of the implant that is in the gum/jawbone will not need to be replaced unless the procedure fails.

Improved Oral Health

Dental implants do not impact neighboring natural teeth and since they act just like natural teeth, they are easy to clean and maintain. This results in an improvement in oral health.

Aesthetically-Pleasing

Dental implants look more like natural teeth than dentures or bridges- and can be colored to blend perfectly with natural teeth.

Convenience

Dental implants can be treated like natural teeth. There is no need for denture adhesives, special cleansers, and more.

Dental Implants are Ideal for Seniors

Dental implants look, feel, and function more like natural teeth. While this is an invasive surgical procedure, seniors should consider dental implants for their tooth loss. There are so many benefits that come with implants. The team at Amores Dental will be glad to work with you to decide if implants are the best option. Dental implants for senior citizens are ideal for improving their lives in a variety of ways.