Am I Too Old for Dental Implants?
Plano, TX
 As a person ages, the likelihood of developing dental concerns such as gum disease, tooth loss, or tooth decay increases. This may lead patients to consider solutions such as dental implants to find relief and improve their overall appearance. Patients in this situation may wonder if they are too old for dental implants — a common dental implant FAQ.
Am I Too Old for Dental Implants
The good news is that there is no age restriction for receiving a dental implant, and people as old as 80 acquire dental implants to battle the effects of tooth loss or to improve their general appearance and confidence. Therefore, a person can get dental implants regardless of their age. However, whether or not a person can obtain dental implants is determined by various circumstances since each case is unique. This is why it is suggested that you consult a medical practitioner to see if you are a candidate for a dental implant. A medical expert will consider factors such as the supplements and medicines you consume, your underlying medical concerns, your history of dental implants and other surgical operations, and your reaction to anesthesia to determine whether you are a suitable candidate for dental implants.
Factors That Might Lead to Dental Implant Failure
Even though everyone, regardless of age, can obtain medical implants, several diseases can make dental implants more likely to fail. The reasons for dental implant failures typically include factors like your tissues' inability to repair themselves or the implants' poor bonding capacity with your jawbone. Additionally, an individual's chance of implant failure is increased if they have an underlying medical condition like cancer, diabetes, severe gum disease, or alcohol dependency.
Furthermore, some treatments that influence your immune system or cause bleeding, including blood thinners or steroids, might impair the body's potential to recover, resulting in improper wound healing of the tissue surrounding your implants.
Smoking is another element that impairs your body's capacity to recover. Lastly, if you have a habit of clenching or grinding your teeth, you might be placing excessive strain on your implants, which can cause them to fail. However, according to experts, even if a person has one or multiple of these issues, they might still be able to get dental implants. It all boils down to your dentist and their expertise. If they think you can adapt to dental implants, they might collaborate with your physician and suggest changes in your lifestyle or medications to boost your likelihood of successfully adapting to dental implants.
Boosting Your Dental Implant Success Rate
Most seniors worldwide have successfully been able to adapt to dental implants. Seniors can follow a few tips like practicing proper oral hygiene, getting regular dental checkups, following their dentist's instructions, and avoiding habits like smoking that might negatively impact their dental implant success rate to boost their likelihood of dental implant success.
For further guidance on dental implants for seniors, feel free to contact the professionals at Dallas Oral Surgery Associates. Our expert dentists, Dr. Lee or Dr. Sherry, will conduct a quick dental checkup to determine if you are the ideal candidate for dental implants and also offer advice on how to boost your chances of success. Call 972-733-0414 for further details. |
