Aging Inquiry: Am I Too Old for Dental Implants?

Did you know that the likelihood of losing adult teeth increases with age? For example, resources report that an estimated 12.9% of adults who are 65 years or older have suffered complete tooth loss, compared to about 17.9% of those who are 75 years or older.

Your dentist can provide lifelike dental implants to rebuild your smile, but some older adults worry that it’s too late for them to undergo the procedure. If you’re interested in this treatment, continue reading to learn why you can still have hope for its success regardless of your age!

How Do Dental Implants Work?

Unlike dentures and bridges, these replacement teeth include a support rod that’s surgically placed in your jaw. It can take three to six months to recover, because your mouth must generate enough new bone growth to fuse with these poles in a process called osseointegration.

Once you’ve healed sufficiently, your dentist can anchor a customized restoration, such as a dental crown, bridge, or dentures, to your implant(s), depending on how many teeth went missing. The result is a lasting repair that can last 20+ years with the right care.

How Does Aging Impact My Jawbone?

Potentially, anyone missing one or more of their permanent teeth might benefit from receiving dental implants, but that doesn’t mean everyone is automatically a good candidate. You must have healthy gum tissues and a dense enough jawbone to support them, so you’ll need to consult your dentist so they can verify that you can safely undergo this procedure.

Unfortunately, you might not be approved right away if it’s been a while since losing your teeth. The roots help stimulate new bone growth with each bite down to keep your jaw active and healthy. When they fall out, your jaw starts thinning, which can eventually result in additional tooth loss.

Dental implants are the only restorations that can prevent this process of degeneration because the titanium rods function like roots to stimulate your jaw.

Is It Too Late For Me To Get Dental Implants?

Are you worried that you’ve waited too long to pursue this treatment? If your dentist finds that your jawbone is too frail, you might not be approved right away. But that doesn’t mean that you can never undergo the procedure. Sometimes, an additional bone graft surgery can be used to add bulk to your jawbone enough to continue.  

If you have additional questions about whether you can safely rebuild your smile with dental implants, scheduling a consultation with your dentist can provide the answers you seek!

Meet the Author

Dr. Christopher Capehart is passionate about helping people enhance their daily lives by improving their oral health. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Texas health Science Center at San Antonio, where he graduated in the top 10% of his class. Today, he offers a comprehensive menu of services to meet all your needs, including dental implants. He partners with local specialists for more accurate placement, then provides lifelike replacement teeth designed to look and feel like the ones that went missing. You can request an appointment on the website or call (972) 436-1325.