Dental Implant Over 60
If you have youthful memories of your parents or grandparents removing their dentures before bed or complaining about their dentures slipping while they eat, you’re not alone. While there are certainly stereotypes about older people losing their teeth and therefore suffering from a diminished quality of life, the reality for today’s senior citizens is much brighter than in the past. It is true that there are some factors that contribute to loss of teeth in aging populations, but the good news is that innovations in dental implant technology can help today’s older people smile, eat, and speak comfortably, while also restoring the strength, health, and function of their mouths. No matter your age, if you are missing one or more of your natural teeth, you might be a good candidate for dental implants.
People over 60 may lose one or more teeth for a variety of reasons. Osteoporosis is a common disease among older people, especially women who have experienced menopause. Osteoporosis causes the bones to become brittle and degrade, which can cause the teeth to become mobile or fall out. Despite the adverse effects of osteoporosis on the bones, and even when a person has experienced bone loss due to osteoporosis, dental implants can still be an option. Not only do dental implants restore the appearance and function of the teeth, they can also help maintain the health of the patient and prevent future bone loss. This happens in two ways: first, dental implants can restore a person’s ability to eat a wide variety of foods, improving their nutrition, and second, dental implants help restore the strength and integrity of the bone and can also stimulate future bone growth.
Dental implants can be more expensive than other dental replacement options. For older people, who may be on a fixed income, or who may believe they won’t get many years of use from dental implants, implants may not seem like a cost-effective option. However, life expectancies continue to increase, and it’s not unlikely for a person in their 60s to have 20 or more of their golden years left. Dental implants can drastically improve the quality of life for this population, allowing them to eat and enjoy a healthy and delicious variety of foods and giving them the self-esteem to smile brightly and speak confidently.
Older people deserve to have an excellent quality of life, no matter how old they may be; they’ve earned the right to enjoy their lives. Without dental implants, older people who experience the loss of their teeth may need to modify their diets, which is neither healthy nor enjoyable. Loss of the teeth can also lead to damage of any remaining teeth, as well as damage to the bone and soft tissues of the mouth. While removable dentures may be a more affordable option, they lack many of the benefits of dental implants. Dental implants allow the wearer to fully enjoy a wide variety of foods. Implants are stable and strong, meaning they won’t slip or make awkward noises like removable dentures. Implants are a comfortable and permanent solution that also provides the added benefit of stabilizing the surrounding bone, preventing the sunken appearance that can befall older people after the loss of natural teeth. Your dentist can tell you if you’re a good candidate for dental implants, so don’t let age stop you from researching this effective and attractive dental replacement option.