What to Know About Dental Implants for Seniors

The most important thing to note about bridges and dentures is that these are sufficient aesthetic restorations, but they do not restore the true function of the tooth. With a dental implant, the implant replicates the role of the tooth root and distributes the force of your bite across your jaw evenly. This is a far superior restoration that will provide lifelong benefits.

What are dental implants?

A dental implant is a small titanium screw that is placed in the jaw bone. A single dental implant can be placed to support a crown restoration, or your dentist might use multiple implants to replace multiple teeth.

This is the only permanent solution for missing teeth and will provide the most realistic restoration that restores functionality to your jaw. Whether you are missing a single tooth or all of your teeth, dental implants offer a treatment option that could be a much better replacement for dentures or bridges.

Types of dental implants available

Dental implants are used for a range of restorations. These are some of the most popular applications for dental implants that you may be offered. For seniors, it is far more likely that you would be offered a treatment like All On 4 dental implants or implant supported dentures.

Single implants

A single dental implant can be placed anywhere in the mouth to support a crown. This is commonly recommended after an extraction to help maintain the spacing between your teeth. If you leave a gap in your smile, your remaining teeth could shift out of alignment into the gap. A dental implant will restore your bite and avoid the need for a dental bridge.

Implant supported bridge

An implant supported bridge could be used to replace multiple teeth. It could use one or two implants to support your bridge restoration. With a single implant bridge, the other side of the bridge will be supported by a crown on a natural tooth. This is an ideal choice if you have multiple teeth missing in a row.

All On 4 implants

With this procedure, longer dental implants are used and placed at an angle into the zygomatic bone, which makes up part of your cheek. These longer, angled implants allow for the implant to be immediately load-bearing. This allows for a complete dental arch restoration without the wait.

Implant retained dentures

If you currently have dentures but would like a more permanent solution, your dentist may recommend implant retained dentures. This procedure involves placing 4-6 dental implants in your jaw and then attaching your denture to these implants. This attachment could be permanent, so only your dentist can remove it, or it could be a magnetic snap-on denture, so you can easily remove it.

Are dental implants safe?

Yes, dental implants are very safe and the risk of complications is very low. There is a low risk of the implant being rejected due to an infection in the socket where the implant is placed. This can happen if you are slow to heal, if you have poor oral hygiene, or if you resume practices like smoking.

The procedure is very safe and should be no more uncomfortable than a tooth extraction. As with any dental procedure, the skill of your dentist is the most important factor to consider. This is why it is vital to choose an experienced dentist.

Who is not a good candidate for implants?

There are some patients that might not be a good candidate for dental implants, but there are often things that can be done to remedy this.

Your bone density in your jaw will have a big impact on your suitability for this treatment. Low bone density could mean that you require a bone graft procedure before you can move forward with dental implants.

The best way to find out if you are a good candidate for dental implants is to book a consultation with our team. We can explore the options available to you and determine if you are a good match for this treatment.