Dental implants are one of the best ways to restore missing teeth for adult patients of any age. There are age limitations for younger patients who have not yet reached skeletal maturity, but any healthy adult that can tolerate implant placement surgery and the extensive healing time may be a good candidate for dental implants.
Our oral health plays a crucial role in overall health and nutrition so it is important for patients of any age to have a complete and functioning smile to help ensure confidence and enable them to enjoy the healthy foods they love for as long as possible.
How are dental implants placed?
Dental implants can be used to replace an individual tooth or multiple missing teeth, even all the teeth on both arches. The implant is a titanium or ceramic screw-like post that is placed directly into the jawbone to serve as an artificial tooth root and supports the dental prosthesis, either a crown, partial or full denture. Your Dentist will refer you to an implant specialist, either a Periodontist or Oral Surgeon, for your implant placement surgery.
The doctor will make a small incision in the gum tissue and drill a hole into your jawbone to place the implant and then will suture the gum tissue closed around the implant, with a small portion left protruding through the tissue. A healing cap, or temporary abutment, is placed over the implant to protect it from damage and infection while you heal for up to six months.
During the healing period, the implant will integrate with your jaw bone, osseointegration, to form a stable foundation for your dental prosthesis. After your implant has healed and fully integrated, your Dentist will take over treatment and restore the implant with an individual implant crown, an implant bridge, or an implant supported denture.
Dental Implants for Seniors
Dental implants are a natural-looking way for patients to restore the function and appearance of their smile. They provide comfort and confidence when eating and speaking. Patients that opt for traditional restorations such as traditional dentures or dental bridges that sit above the gums will not have the support that dental implants offer. Since dental implants are placed directly into the jawbone, they help stimulate bone regeneration and prevent deterioration which in the case of a traditional bridge or denture, can cause the prosthesis to become ill-fitting and uncomfortable to wear.
Traditional options may be less costly at first but will need to be replaced every 5-10 years whereas an implant-supported prosthesis has the ability to last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance.
There are a number of advantages to dental implants in addition to stability and longevity! Below are some of the added benefits of dental implants.
Diet and Nutrition
Patients with missing teeth can have a hard time enjoying some of their favorite foods and getting proper nutrition. A lot of healthy food options require more chewing for proper digestion and absorption so restoring teeth with dental implants allows patients the ability to eat a larger variety of foods which can lead to an overall improvement in health and energy level.
Care and Maintenance
Traditional dentures have to be removed for cleaning and need to be soaked overnight but dental implants are permanent and are easily cared for just like natural teeth with careful brushing and flossing.
Comfort and Aesthetics
Dental implants are incredibly natural-looking and since they are permanently fixed in place, are considerably more comfortable. A traditional denture or other dental prosthesis can slip around when you chew and speak and often become ill-fitting over time as bone structure begins to deteriorate.
Cost Effective
Unlike traditional dentures and other dental restoration, dental implants are a lifetime investment and even though they are more expensive initially, they have the ability to last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance and may never need to be replaced. Other dental prostheses will need to be replaced every 5 to 10 years, making dental implants more cost effective in the long run.