Dental Implant over 60 Years Old
The image of an older person without teeth, eating only softer foods is no longer accurate. Even more inaccurate is the idea that you are doomed to wear ill-fitting dentures that sit in a glass beside you every night. Advancements with dental implant technology allow most adults the option of tooth replacement. You do not need to dismiss the opportunity to replace your missing teeth with dental implants because you think you are too old.
Osteoporosis
Many older people, especially women who are post-menopausal, have been diagnosed with the disease that causes bone loss and brittle bones. Osteoporosis often results in tooth loss for women with the disease but it does not eliminate them from being a good candidate for dental implants. Having a mouth full of teeth can allow people with dental implants to eat a diet full of nutritious foods reducing the future impact of osteoporosis.
Increased Life Expectancy
For other older people, the idea that they don’t want to invest in dental implants because they are not going to be “around much longer anyway.” For adults in their 60s, they are living longer than their parent’s generation so they could have 20 to 30 years left.
If their teeth have been replaced with dentures, the daily struggles of ill-fitting dentures for three meals a day for decades looms over them. Instead, a few months of healing after dental implant surgery can offer years of teeth staying securely in place for meals and conversations.
Quality of Life
Any adult who is in relatively good health is a potential candidate for dental implants including people in their 80s. It is important for people of all ages to be able to enjoy their lives by eating the foods they enjoy and having the confidence to share their smile with the world. By avoiding dental implants, those same people will need to change their diets, leave out certain foods, and alter the way that they chew their food. Without the option of a balanced diet, people are prone to more diseases and other dental issues down the road. A poor quality of life can be avoided by talking to the dentist about dental implants.
Dentures vs. Implants
At first glance, dentures may seem to be the less expensive solution to missing teeth, but the overall benefits of dental implants may prove to be a better investment. Some reasons to choose dental implants over dentures include:
- Fully tasting your meals without dentures taking up so much more space.
- Brushing your teeth like normal without having to remove and soak dentures.
- Eliminating denture adhesive and avoiding the irritation it causes.
- Tackling your missing teeth in a few appointments instead of having to have new dentures fits every couple years.
- Secure and strong dental implants as compared to the sliding and slipping dentures.
Conclusion
Only the dentist can officially determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants, but you do not need to avoid the conversation because you think you are too old. You deserve to have a long term solution to your missing teeth instead of dealing with the day to day issues of dentures for years, even decades to come.