Dental Implants for Seniors
If we take care to eat well, exercise and maintain regular health screenings, we will get to know the benefits of old age. And despite your best efforts, you may find you need to replace a joint or you have to have a tooth removed. Dentures are not the only tooth replacement option; seniors can consider dental implants as an option.
Why Dental Implants for Seniors?
We all know the jokes about the struggles of dentures from not eating certain foods to having the dentures move while speaking. Dental implants can be a great alternative for seniors to replace their missing teeth. Implants offer the ability to bite with the same force as natural teeth and restore smiles without any sinking or sagging. The confidence that comes with a bright smile is a byproduct of dental implant surgery. Seniors who have used dental implants to replace missing teeth and improve their overall dental health often report that they wish they would not have waited so long to have the surgery.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are surgically placed posts that support a replacement tooth. The implant is fixed below the gum line by a prosthodontist or periodontist. These are dentists with additional specialized training in surgery, gums and replacement teeth. After the dental implant is in place, it starts to grow into and fuse with the jaw bone to secure its placement in your mouth. The top of the implant has a connector or abutment for the prosthetic tooth to attach to above the gum. Typically the dentist is able to use local anesthesia for the procedures and your post-surgery pain can be controlled with over the counter pain medication.
Top 5 Advantages of Dental Implants for Seniors
- Easier to care for than dentures
- Dentures stain, slip around and need to be removed to be cleaned. Implants function like natural teeth and can be cared for like natural teeth.
- Cost savings over dentures
- Dental implants require a one-time procedure and are a permanent solution to tooth loss. Dentures, on the other hand, require maintenance and need to be refit over time. Dentures will generate costs over and over while implants are a one-time investment.
- Better eating
- Because dental implants are designed to function like natural teeth with the same chewing strength, seniors do not need to worry about the pain from certain foods caused by dentures. Diets can be restored to include a variety of foods with plenty of fruits and vegetables and the benefits that come with those vitamins and minerals. With their teeth chewing more thoroughly, seniors can experience less digestion discomfort
- Looking better
- Dental implants replace the missing teeth that prevent seniors from smiling and talking with confidence. Implants also restore their mouths’ fullness without any sinking or sagging from missing teeth.
- Feeling better
- As seniors eat better, look better and are able to engage more with family and friends, their quality of life is sure to improve with the added confidence and self-esteem.