If you have missing teeth and have been wearing dentures for years, there’s good news. Dental implants offer permanent replacement teeth that are ideal for seniors who want a natural look and feel to their smile.
More Comfortable Than Dentures
There’s nothing quite like having natural teeth. But permanent dental implants come fairly close! Since dental implants are the only restoration designed after anatomical, permanent teeth, you can expect them to fit and feel better than a removable denture.
Our senior patients often complain of rubbing or loose dentures as time goes by. But since implant-supported options are permanently set into the bone, nothing will slip, rub, or rock out of place. They sit securely where you need them 24/7. You never need to take them out at night or have to worry about messy denture adhesives to keep them in place.
For seniors, the comfortable fit is a significant difference between implants and dentures. Generally, it’s more challenging to get dentures to fit securely over time (because of bone loss.) Since implants essentially halt bone loss where they’re installed—and they are not removable—you can enjoy a comfortable and fixed “bite” without having to adjust it every couple of years.
Better for Your Bone and Facial Profile
Senior citizens and older patients with missing teeth tend to see their facial profile shorten or sag as time goes by. One of the reasons for this is because of tooth loss and how it triggers shrinking in your jaw bone. But when a dental implant is installed, it naturally leads to a process called “osseointegration”, where your bone forms a new layer that fuses to the implant. This integration process strengthens your jaw bone, holds the implant in place, and offers physical support for fuller facial features.
Improved Diet and Nutrition
Eating with dental implants offers an immediate boost to your health. Especially if you’re a senior who is used to eating with dentures. You won’t have to limit your diet, stick to soft foods, or cut things up into smaller than normal bites. Implants chew and bite the same as natural teeth with no pressure on your gums.
Elderly patients often experience nutritional deficiencies because of their limited diets (due to missing teeth.) Fortunately, there is no upper age limit when it comes to implants for seniors. Anyone with generally good health and bone support is a suitable candidate.
Eating and talking with All-on-4 implants is easier for seniors, because of the simple design. You won’t have to learn how to talk, chew, or swallow with a larger dental prosthesis in your mouth. Instead, the slim shape only follows your natural bite, mirroring natural teeth.
The Impact on Your Lifestyle
Most patients enjoy the aesthetic benefits that implant treatment offers. Although there’s something to be said about feeling confident in the way your smile looks, the freedom that implants allow will impact every aspect of your lifestyle. When you feel free to laugh around friends, eat out with your family, or even pose in photographs again, the investment is more than worth it.
If you’re tired of living with denture pain or a limited diet, getting dental implants can change that. Once your restorations are fully integrated and restored, the difference is astounding. Take a look at some of these life-changing before and after implant patient cases we’ve done at Gordon Dental.
Predictable, Proven Results
Whether you’re replacing multiple teeth or only one, most restorations can last for the rest of your life. These new “teeth” are so successful that you shouldn’t notice much of a difference when you’re eating or talking around your friends (something quite different than dentures.) In addition, our patients experience less discomfort and improved quality of life thanks to the predictability that implants have to offer.
Each implant surgery is unique. Although the procedure is quite straightforward, some individuals do occasionally require additional measures such as grafting. Working with a skilled implant dentist or oral surgeons like Dr. Philip Gordon will ensure a successful surgical procedure and treatment outcome.
Is There an Age Cutoff for Getting Dental Implants?
No. The most important thing is to make sure your jawbone has enough bone density and width to properly house an implant at that location in your jaw. Our Kansas City implant dentist will thoroughly evaluate your anatomy during your consultation to make sure you qualify.
What do Full Arch Implants Look Like?
A typical full arch of dental implants will use an “All-on-4” or “All-on-6” approach, where we pair implants together to restore your upper or lower teeth. As you might guess, only 4-6 dental implants are needed per arch. Since they’re so durable, each set of implants can support the weight of a full set of upper or lower teeth.
The restoration that fits on top of your implants is a hybrid denture/bridge design. Instead of a “plate” resting across the roof of your mouth, the U-shaped restoration is more like a dental bridge with a slightly larger base. Your All-on-4 is crafted to contain each of the missing teeth as well as mimic the natural gum tissues immediately around them.
They’re Easier to Care For
With dentures, you have to worry about taking your prosthesis out every night, soaking it, cleaning your gums, and making sure you don’t have any sore spots. But caring for dental implants is nearly identical to having natural teeth. All you’ll need to do is brush and floss (or use a water flosser).
Long Term Success
No matter your age, the investment in dental implants is one to last a lifetime. The high 98% success rate is greater than any other modern tooth replacement, making implants a preferred choice for people who have missing teeth. If you’re worried that you’re too old to get dental implants, you’re not. You deserve just as healthy and functional of a smile today as you did when you were younger. Your dental health literally impacts every aspect of your day-to-day life.
Request an Implant Exam Today
Do you qualify as an implant patient? To learn more about treatment specifications and costs, contact Gordon Dental in Kansas City today.