Can You Outgrow the Option for Dental Implants?

No matter what stage of life you’re in, it’s probably important to you to look great and feel confident in your appearance. If you’re missing one or more teeth, this can do a number on your morale and overall quality of life. Whether you’re twenty or eighty, you deserve to have the smile you’ve always wanted, but you may be wondering if it’s too late for you. Keep reading to find out what your experts on dental implants in Van Nuys have to say about the age limit.

How Old Is Too Old for Dental Implants?

If you’ve been wondering whether you have missed your window of opportunity to fill in those gaps in your smile caused by missing teeth, you’ll be happy to know that you haven’t! As long as your oral health is otherwise in good condition, you’re never too old to receive dental implants. Below, your dentists discusses what criteria your oral health should meet in to be a good candidate for dental implants.

Who Can Get Dental Implants?

As people age, many begin to experience weakening of gum tissues and jawbone deterioration. This can ultimately lead to tooth loss if not treated, which is why many find themselves in need of tooth replacement. Dental implants come with many benefits from restoring your smile to its natural full beauty, to functionally helping you eat and talk with more ease. Before your dentist decides that dental implants are the right move for you, there are several things they will take into consideration, and you’ll be happy to know that age is not one of them:

• General Health: Dental implants are inserted into the jawbone, and the expectation is that over time, the titanium rod will fuse with the existing bone and even promote new growth. In order for this to successfully happen, you’ll need to be in good overall health with a strong immune system that can aid in healing your jaw and hold the implant in place.
• Gum Health: If you have other oral health conditions, such as gum disease, this can pose a challenge to the success of dental implants. Your gums are not only responsible for protecting your teeth from bacteria, but they also firmly hold them in place. The implant and the  prosthetic that is secured on top of it will need to be supported by healthy gums in order to work properly. If the gums are weak or receding, this can lead to the implant not fusing properly with the jawbone.
• Bone Health: As previously discussed, for the implant to be successful, it has to integrate with your jawbone. Although this takes time, it can help strengthen your jaw and allow you to maintain a youthful facial structure. In order for the bones to stay strong and continue supporting the implant, they will need to be healthy. Sufferers of severe osteoporosis or other bone loss issues will need to discuss these conditions with their dentist before choosing dental implants as an option.
• Medications: Certain medications, like blood thinners, can impede the healing process after the procedure. If you are on any medications, make sure to discuss them with your dentist to see what they recommend.

Regardless of your age, you deserve to have confidence in your smile. If you’re ready to consider dental implants as an option for tooth replacement, talk to your dentist about how they might benefit you!

About the Author

Dr. Idan Snapir, Dr. Shanne Sastiel, and Dr. Samuel Gegamian lead the team of experts at The Dental Smile Center. They are dedicated to providing patients of all ages with the smiles of their dreams through the gift of dental implants. They also offer individualized treatments to meet the specific needs of each person they care for. Are you ready to talk about restoring your smile? Schedule a consultation with us online, or call (818) 780-9700.