Dental implants are one of the best ways to restore missing teeth for adult patients of any age! Oral health plays a crucial role in overall health and nutrition so it is important for patients of any age to have a complete, functioning smile to help ensure confidence and enable them to enjoy the healthy foods they love for as long as possible.
Not everyone is a candidate for dental implants but they are a great option for any healthy adult that can tolerate implant placement surgery and the extensive healing time, which can last up to six months. Implants can be used to replace an individual tooth or multiple missing teeth, even as a full implant-supported denture on one or both arches.
How are dental implants placed?
An implant is a titanium or ceramic post that is screwed directly into the jaw bone to serve as an artificial tooth root. An implant is placed by either a periodontist or oral surgeon. Your regular dentist will place the dental prosthesis on the implant.
To begin, the doctor will make a small incision in the gum tissue and drill a hole into your jaw bone, place the implant, and then suture the gum tissue closed around the implant, leaving a small portion left protruding through the tissue. A healing cap, or temporary abutment, is placed over the implant to protect it from damage and infection while you heal which can take up to six months.
While you heal, the implant will integrate with your jaw bone through a process called osseointegration to form a stable foundation for your dental prosthesis. After your implant has healed and fully integrated, your dentist will place your implant restoration.
Dental Implants for Seniors
Dental implants not only serve to complete your smile, they also have the added benefit of supporting bone health in the jaw. When patients have a traditional restoration, one that sits on the gum tissue, the underlying bone structure in the area begins to deteriorate. Tooth roots help stimulate bone regeneration and when that factor is missing, osteoblast cells that make up our bones take their energy elsewhere. This can have a domino effect and lead to tooth mobility and further bone loss and eventually, more tooth loss.
Implant supported restorations are stable, comfortable, and as a bonus - they are incredibly natural-looking! Traditional options may be less costly at first but will need to be replaced every 5-10 years whereas an implant-supported prosthesis has the ability to last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance. In the long-run, implant restorations may be more cost effective.
Additional Benefits of Dental Implants
Nutrition
Patients with missing teeth can have a hard time enjoying some of their favorite foods and getting good nutrition from those foods. Many healthy options require more chewing for proper digestion and absorption, so restoring teeth with dental implants allows patients the ability to eat a larger variety of foods which can lead to an overall improvement in health and energy.
Maintenance
Traditional dentures are taken out for cleaning and need to be soaked overnight but dental implants are permanent and are easily cared for just like natural teeth with careful brushing and flossing. Your dentist will have tools that you can incorporate into your oral hygiene routine to make caring for your implant even easier!