As you get older, it is perfectly normal to think about your teeth and whether getting dental implants is the right choice for you. Having a full set of teeth is not only important for aesthetic reasons, but it can impact the foods you can eat, your comfort level and your overall health. You may be wondering about whether your age will affect implant success and whether dental implants work as well for older patients as they can for younger ones.
The Dental Implant Basics
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root shaped like a screw. This can be placed into your jawbone and over time, it will bond with the natural bone. This then creates a base to support a crown or artificial tooth. Your dentist will place an abutment or connector on top of the implant to hold a custom made crown. The crowns are designed specifically for you to match your teeth and the gap in your dentistry.
This means that you can replace just one lost tooth or several teeth to create a natural appearance. Dental implants are a safe and strong dentistry procedure that makes it simple and easy for seniors to regain full chewing abilities.
The Benefits of Dental Implants for Seniors
Dental implants offer numerous benefits for patients of any age, but they can be particularly attractive for seniors.
Affordability
Although dental implants may not appear to be the cheapest dental treatment, they are quite cost affordable when you consider that they are resistant to breaking and easy to maintain. This means that dental implants are sustainable and affordable in the long term. On average, they cost around $3,000 to $7,000 but again, they are a long term investment.
Improved Biting and Chewing
Weak or missing teeth can immediately compromise our abilities to bite and chew food. Seniors with missing teeth can have these issues corrected with dental implants, which means no more worries about discomfort and toothaches. Restoring biting and chewing abilities can also improve proper digestion, which can boost overall health.
Improved Self Confidence
When seniors can enjoy their favorite foods without chewing difficulties, they can feel both healthier and better about themselves. Implants also provide a natural looking smile, so they can feel greater confidence and enjoy a better quality of life.
Improved Oral Health
Implants don’t impact the nearby teeth for support, which means that healthy teeth are left intact, which is significant for overall oral health. Individual implants also allow for easy access between the teeth, making dental hygiene easier.
What You Can Expect From Dental Implant Procedures
Typically, dental implant procedures involve a few steps. You’ll start with a consultation when an experienced dentist will examine your mouth, take 3D images and discuss your implant options. The dentist will create a plan for your dental implant procedure and explain each of the steps, providing the opportunity to ask any queries or questions you may have.
During the next appointment, the dentist will place the dental implant into your jaw. This is positioned in the gap where your teeth are missing. This is a quick and simple procedure, and most people find that it is not particularly painful. You can typically return to your normal daily activities the following day.
Bear in mind that each person is different, so you may receive local anesthesia or sedation during the surgery. However, if you have particular anxieties or other issues, you can discuss other options during your initial consultation to ensure that you remain comfortable.
The discomfort following the implant insertion is like any other type of dental surgery. You may experience minor bleeding, swelling, bruising or pain. But, most patients can usually manage using over the counter pain medications.
Typically, you will have dissolving stitches in your gum, but if the stitches are not self dissolving, your dentist will provide instructions on when and how they should be removed. At this stage, your dentist may recommend you take a course of antibiotics.
You will then have a gap in your treatment schedule, as you need time for your jawbone and dental implant to grow together. This is called osseointegration, and it is vital for creating a long-lasting, strong foundation for the new crowns.
Your dentist may advise a soft food diet for several weeks following the implant surgery to aid proper healing, but within a month or two, you should feel back to normal.
Once the implant has bonded with your jawbone, the dentist will schedule your abutment placement. During this appointment, the dentist will place an abutment or small connector onto the dental implant. However, in some cases, this connector can be placed at the same time as the implant insertion.
After the abutment is in place and your gums have healed from the implant surgery, it is time to attach your new teeth. Your dentist will make new artificial teeth that are custom to your mouth. The dentist will use the scans and imaging, along with impressions of your mouth to create teeth that will perfectly blend into the surrounding teeth.
It is possible to have one individual crown, a denture plate containing multiple teeth or an implant supported bridge, according to your requirements. These new teeth are designed to be strong and once they are secured to the implant, they should feel as strong and solid as your original teeth. You should be able to bite and chew any foods with no discomfort or pain. The artificial teeth will not decay, but you will need to clean and care for them as you do your natural teeth.
You’ll need to have regular check ups to ensure that your implants are secure and your jaw is healing properly. The number of check ups you will need will depend on the type of implant and how many artificial teeth you’ve had implanted, but typically the entire implant process takes three to nine months.
Are Dental Implants a Good Choice for Seniors?
If you’re an older senior, you may wonder whether it is still a good idea to consider dental implants. If you’re in good overall health and have adequate jawbone density, even if you’re 80 years old, you can get dental implants. However, there are some key considerations to determine if dental implants are a good choice for you.
Your Medical History
If you have any medical conditions such as osteoporosis, diabetes or cardiovascular disease, you will need to have these issues well managed before you consider dental implants. It is important to discuss your medical history with your dentist to determine if you’re a suitable candidate for dental implants.
Bone Density
Long term tooth loss and age can result in bone loss in the jaw, which can impact the chances of dental implant success. Your dentist will examine your mouth and perform scans to assess your jaw bone density. In some cases, you may require a bone graft, which will ensure that the jaw will be able to properly support the implants.
Recovery Times
The healing process can be slower in the elderly due to slower tissue regeneration and reduced blood flow. This means that you need to be prepared for the entire implant process to take a little longer if needed. Your jaw bone and implant need to properly grow together before the crowns can be placed. Your dentist will advise you of the anticipated time frame and provide care instructions for optimum healing and recovery.
Smoking
If you’re a smoker, this habit can impair gum healing and decrease the dental implant success rate as it affects blood flow to your gums. If you’re considering dental implants, you will need to inform your dentist about your smoking habits. You may be advised to quit smoking to significantly enhance the implant surgical outcome.
Which is Better: Dental Implants or Dentures?
There is no right or wrong answer to this question, as it will depend on your preferences and circumstances. However, there are some critical details that can help you to make an informed decision.
Firstly, you need to think about the daily care routine. Dentures need to be removed each night for cleaning. You’ll need to rinse them in water, use a suitable denture cleaner and soak overnight. On the other hand, dental implants are not removable and can be maintained as you would natural teeth. You can brush and floss them as you would all your teeth.
Another important consideration is durability. Dentures are typically made from acrylic plastic that can be vulnerable to breaking if you bite into hard foods or drop them. You need to carefully handle your dentures during insertion, removal and cleaning. Dental implants are made from a more durable material called zirconia that is designed to last a lifetime, providing a long term and stable tooth replacement option.
In fact, dental implants offer a chewing efficiency that is close to 95%, which is far greater than the 10 to 15% efficiency of traditional dentures. This means that implants are not only more durable, but can provide greater confidence and comfort.
It is also important to note that dentures often require regular follow up maintenance appointments. The jawbone naturally deteriorates and reshapes as we age, so the fit of dentures can change. This means that they need to be refitted or replaced. On the other hand, dental implants are designed to help maintain the jawbone structure similar to natural teeth. This means that once they are implanted and properly healed, you should require no additional adjustments.
So, while implants may have a higher initial cost, they can work out more affordable in the long term. This is because dentures need frequent refittings, repairs and replacements. When you look at the cost of implant surgery, you need to consider that the price includes tooth extractions, implant placement and all the procedures associated with the implant surgery, but once you’ve paid this bill, you shouldn’t have any additional costs.
The Pros and Cons of Dental Implants for Seniors
As with any dental or medical procedure, there are both positives and potential negatives that you need to consider when weighing your decision.
The Pros
- Long Term Solution: Dental implants provide a long term solution to missing teeth rather than a quick fix. Crowns may need to be replaced every 10 to 15 years, but dental implants can last a lifetime.
- Look and Feel of Natural Teeth: Implants are designed to look exactly like your other teeth. Once you have your implant fitted, it will be difficult to see the difference between your replacement tooth and your real teeth.
- Preventing Bone Loss: When you lose a tooth, the bone in the area can start to break down and disintegrate or periodontitis. Since implants are anchored into the jaw like a real tooth, they can prevent this bone loss. The screw thread acts like a natural tooth root, so the jaw bone remains strong.
The Cons
- Potentially Lengthy Process: The overall treatment process has many phases and it can take up to six months for the dental implant to fuse with your jawbone. This means that the overall process can take up to nine months or longer.
- Risk of Infection: While complications from dental implants are uncommon, after the implants are placed, you may experience a gum infection, which would require additional treatment.
- May Involve Additional Procedures: in some situations, the process may require additional treatment. For example, if you don’t have sufficient bone density in your jaw, you may need a bone transplant to support the implant. Any additional operations will lengthen the time it takes for the entire procedure and increase the costs.
Should You Get Dental Implants at 80?
If you’re approaching the age of 80, your standard of living is even more essential. Dental implants can increase your quality of life, allowing you to eat better, improve your nutrition and even stay more sociable and active for a healthy lifestyle.
Whether you’re 18 or 80, dental implants can offer some fantastic benefits and even if you’re older, you can expect a similar recovery as younger patients. Dental implants are considered the gold standard in teeth replacement, so there is no age limit for this procedure. If you’re relatively healthy and have even a few years of life expectancy, you can improve your living standards with this predictable and safe procedure.
However, it is important to discuss any concerns with your dentist. Your dentist will evaluate your general health, bone health, oral health, medications and any existing health conditions to evaluate if you’re a suitable candidate.
What Are the Alternatives to Tooth Implants?
If you’re still not sure about dental implants, there are several alternatives, depending on your budget, personal preferences and oral health.
Partial Dentures
Full dentures replace your entire arch of teeth, but partials are removable dentures that replace just a few of your teeth. They do require your adjacent teeth to be healthy, as they are needed as an anchor for stability.
Fixed Bridge
A bridge is designed to replace one or more adjacent teeth, anchoring the false teeth to crowns placed on the teeth next to your gap. Again, this requires adjacent teeth to be healthy and stable. If they are not, it is likely that the bridge may fail and you will need to consider alternative solutions.
Flippers
This is a temporary, removable and lightweight solution for partial dentures. They are often used during the time when a permanent solution is being arranged. However, flippers are more brittle and not well suited to regular chewing. Additionally, they can place excessive pressure on the jaw and gums, which can cause further damage.
Dental Implants vs Other Alternatives
| Feature | Dental Implants | Dentures | Bridges | All-on-4 Implants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Definition | Titanium posts surgically inserted into the jawbone to replace missing teeth. | Removable prosthetic devices that replace missing teeth. | Fixed prosthetic that replaces missing teeth by anchoring to adjacent natural teeth. | A full-arch fixed dental prosthesis supported by four implants. |
| Longevity | 20+ years with proper care (permanent solution). | 5-10 years before needing replacement or adjustments. | 10-15 years with good maintenance. | 20+ years, similar to standard implants. |
| Stability | Very stable, functions like natural teeth. | Can shift or loosen over time. | Fairly stable but relies on neighboring teeth. | Highly stable, similar to natural teeth. |
| Comfort | Feels like natural teeth; no slipping. | May cause discomfort or sore spots, especially in the beginning. | Comfortable but may put stress on adjacent teeth. | Very comfortable; doesn’t slip like traditional dentures. |
| Bone Preservation | Prevents bone loss by stimulating the jawbone. | Does not prevent bone loss; can accelerate it over time. | Somewhat helps maintain bone structure but does not stimulate growth. | Prevents bone loss like traditional implants. |
| Chewing Ability | Restores full chewing ability like natural teeth. | May reduce chewing efficiency, especially for harder foods. | Good chewing ability, but not as strong as implants. | Restores strong chewing function. |
| Maintenance | Brush and floss like natural teeth. | Requires daily removal and special cleaning. | Similar to natural teeth but requires extra care for the bridge. | Brush and floss like natural teeth. |
| Surgical Procedure | Requires surgery and healing time (3-6 months). | No surgery required. | Some dental preparation needed; no surgery. | Requires surgery, but fewer implants mean shorter healing time. |
| Best For | Seniors who want a long-term, natural-feeling solution and have good bone health. | Seniors looking for an affordable, non-invasive solution. | Seniors with some remaining healthy teeth to support the bridge. | Seniors needing full mouth restoration with fewer implants. |
Tips for Dental Implant Care
Most dental implant procedures are successful, but should the bone fail to fuse to the implant, it can be removed and you can retry in approximately three months. You can also help improve the healing and performance of your implants with some care.
- Brush and Floss Regularly: Good hygiene is vital for good oral health. Fortunately, you can care for your implants as if they are real teeth with regular flossing and brushing.
- Get Regular Check Ups and Cleaning: You should see your dentist regularly and have professional cleanings every six to 12 months.
- Minimize Damaging Habits: There are some habits such as using tobacco and chewing on ice that can damage your real teeth and implants, so try to minimize these activities.
Dental implants can offer a long term solution for patients of all ages, particularly seniors who want to maintain their smile and chewing abilities. Of course, it is important to try to keep your real teeth for as long as possible with good dental habits. Dental implants make it possible to have a bad tooth extracted and replaced later to maintain your chewing and biting abilities.
If you have concerns about your teeth and whether dental implants are a good choice for you, you should discuss any issues with your dentist. An experienced dental professional can help you to assess whether you’re a good candidate for dental implants and explore potential treatment plans.
