Pros and Cons: Dental Implant for Seniors

When you arrive at a specific age, it’s normal to have inquiries concerning whether dental implants are ideal for you. You may consider the kind of success rate you’ll have with implants at your age and may keep thinking about whether dental implants work just as well for older patients as they do for younger ones.

Fortunately, dental implants are similarly viable and sustainable in old age. Implants enhance older people’s lives for good, giving them better physical wellbeing and more reliance.

How do Dental Implants work?

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots shaped in the form of a screw. A professional dentist inserts a dental implant in your jawbone, which will then adjoin your natural root. This builds a base to support artificial teeth, otherwise called crowns.

Then a connector named abutment is placed on top of your dental implant to confine your crown. The dental crowns are custom-made to fit in your mouth and match your teeth and.

Dental implant surgery is the most comfortable dentistry procedure. It is the simplest and easiest for seniors to regain their chewing abilities and the natural appearance of their mouths.

Why are dental implants necessary for seniors?

There are numerous benefits to opting for an implant. If you are not sure about having one, read why dental implants for seniors are necessary.

1. Affordable

When compared with other artificial dental replacement items like dentures, dental implants are cost-efficient since they are easy to maintain and resistant to breaking. Thus, dental implants cost-wise offer sustainable benefits, which makes them affordable.

2. Improves chewing and Biting

Seniors face chewing and biting their food because of missing or weak teeth. But, dental implants restore missing teeth, assisting seniors in eating without worrying about toothache and discomfort. By restoring their chewing and biting abilities, dental implants also improve the proper digestion process.

3. Elevated self-confidence

When elderlies chew their favourite foods without any difficulty, they tend to feel healthier and better about themselves. Also, implants provide a natural-looking smile. Thus, making them feel confident and offering a better overall quality of life.

4. Improved oral health

Implants don’t alter nearby teeth for support, leaving most of the teeth left intact, which is significant for older people. Hence improving long-term oral health. Individual implants also allow easy access between teeth, improving overall dental hygiene.

Dental Implant Pros & Cons for Seniors

Pros:

Dental Implants are long-term answers more than mere quick fixes. They come with a wide range of pros.

1. Dental Implants Look and Feel Like Natural Teeth

Dental implants look exactly like real teeth. Once the implant is fitted inside the senior’s mouth, they will hardly notice the difference between a real tooth and a replacement tooth.

Additionally, implants won’t feel any different from real teeth, either. Seniors will be able to talk and eat as they normally would.

2. Dental Implants Can Last a Lifetime

Dental implants for seniors are a sustainable tooth replacement option. They may need to change the crowns every 10-15 years, but implants can last a lifetime with bare minimum maintenance.

Regular brushing, cleaning the gum line, and regular check-ups with your dentist will increase the likelihood of dental implants lasting for many years.

3. Dental Implants Prevent Bone Loss

The teeth roots encourage the strengthening of the jaw bone. When an older adult loses a tooth, the bone around that area of the missing tooth can start to disintegrate and break down. This complication is called periodontitis.

Implants are anchored into the jaw, just like real teeth. The screw thread acts as the root of a natural tooth, so your jaw bone remains strong with dental implants, and you won’t experience bone loss.

Cons:

Every dental implant surgery comes with its challenges. Here are some key cons to consider before getting one:

1. Might Turn Into a Lengthy Process:

The overall treatment entails many phases. It might take up to 6 months for dental implants to fuse with the jawbone, so getting them placed can take a while. Thus it may become a demanding process for seniors to take up immediate care.

2. Can Cause Infections:

Although dental implant complications are uncommon, your gums may become infected after the implants are placed. Periodontal disease, which leads to bone loss, can occur due to dental implant problems in extreme situations.

3. Involves Additional procedures:

Dental implants for seniors may require extra treatments in some situations. Certain patients, for example, may not have enough bone to sustain the implant, necessitating a bone transplant. It’s also conceivable that if their sinuses are too close to your jawbone, they’ll require a sinus lift. These additional operations may lengthen the time it takes for implants to arrive and raise the cost.

Should an 80-year-old get dental implants?

As one comes close to the stage of becoming a senior, the standard of living becomes increasingly essential, and a great smile may go a long way toward improving it. Dental implants increase the quality of life for older adults by allowing them to receive better nutrition, eat better, stay more sociable, and live healthy & active lifestyles.

Whether 80 or 90 years old, older people can benefit from dental implants and recover with the same predictability as younger ones. Most patients, particularly the elderly, should get dental implants as they are the gold standard for teeth replacement.  

As a result, there is no such thing as old age for dental implants. A relatively healthy person with even a few years of life expectancy can benefit from dental implants predictably and safely, therefore improving their living standards.

According to research, the success rates of dental implants in individuals over the age of 80 with those under the age of 80 after five years. The two groups had the same success percentages, according to this research.

Dentists evaluate the following factors for the possibility of dental implants for seniors:

• General Health
• Bone health
• Medications
• Oral Health

Final Verdict

Getting a dental implant is a long-term solution for seniors that can last forever.

However, for teeth that aren’t currently missing, it’s sensible to keep them for as long as necessary isn’t without danger, and a bad tooth may always be extracted and replaced with an implant later if required.

For many seniors, dental health issues limit their ability to eat, speak, and interact comfortably.Low-cost dental implant programs bridge this gap, ensuring that everyone, regardless of income, has access to life-changing dental care.

Dental implants not only restore health and confidence, but also allow seniors to live fully and independently. Whether through nonprofits, veterans programs, or dental school, these opportunities are available to many.

If you or someone you love faces dental challenges, exploring these low-cost dental implant programs could be the first step toward a healthier, happier life. Don’t let financial issues stop you from rediscovering your smile and improving your overall health.