As you get older, the risk of losing teeth can increase, and this is precisely the age when you are more likely to need dental implants. But often we see people who are concerned they might be too old for dental implants. The good news is that age isn’t a factor and it really is just a number. People have successfully received dental implants in their 70s and 80s. With people enjoying longer and healthier lifestyles than ever before, there’s no reason to put up with missing teeth.
Why Dental Implants Can Be a Great Solution for Older People
In fact, dental implants can be an excellent way to help protect your general health, making it easier to eat properly and to choose foods that contain all the nutrients required to maintain good overall health and to fight any diseases and infections more efficiently. Often people who have lost multiple teeth or who are completely edentulous (have no natural teeth) will struggle with partial or full dentures which can restrict foods choices. When you have dental implants, as well as eating a greater variety of foods, it’s easier to socialize with others, without being fearful that your dentures will move at inopportune moments.
There are a couple of factors that can affect your suitability for dental implants and which include your general health and the availability of jawbone to support the dental implants.
How General Health Can Affect Your Suitability for Treatment
Dental implants require a small surgical procedure as the implant posts are inserted directly into your jawbone where they need to heal and fully integrate with the bone. It is crucial for our dentist in Ajax to have your complete medical history, including details of any medical conditions and medications prescribed. Some medicines can affect healing after a dental implant procedure. It is essential to have all this information that we can ensure dental implant treatment is suitable and safe.
Sometimes certain conditions and especially systemic diseases can increase the risk of implant failure. One disease that may have this effect is poorly controlled diabetes which can affect healing after implant surgery, so there is a higher risk of the implants failing to integrate with the jawbone fully. If you have diabetes, then it is still worthwhile enquiring about dental implants in Clarington. If your diabetes is well-controlled treatment may still be an option and suitability can be determined according to your circumstances.
The strength and availability of your jawbone is a huge factor and isn’t dependent on age. However, if you lost teeth quite some time ago, then it’s almost inevitable that your jawbone will have been resorbed to some extent. Even so, it’s possible to restore missing bone with bone grafts, building up your jawbone to the correct height and width and ensuring it strong enough to support dental implants. A bone graft is only a minor surgical procedure that is routinely carried out in preparation for dental implants in Bowmanville. If the thought of having a bone graft doesn’t appeal or if this isn’t a suitable treatment for you then we might be able to provide a different type of dental implant treatment designed to maximize the bone available in your jaw, so you can still benefit from dental implants.
There are many different types of dental implants in Newcastle, and many people have already benefited from this treatment, so will you be next? Why not contact Durham Implant Solutions to discover more? An initial consultation will tell you much more, including if you are suitable. One thing is almost certain, that you won’t be too old for dental implants.
