Am I Too Old for Dental Implants?

Some people with missing teeth worry they are too old for dental implants. It’s a normal reaction. You may fear that you shouldn’t spend the money at your age or that the surgery won’t be successful unless you’re younger. Fortunately, we can put your fears to rest. No one is too old for dental implants as long as they are healthy.

Are Dental Implants More Likely to Fail in the Elderly?

At the Center for Oral Surgery and Dental Implants, we use innovative products such as Leucocyte-Platelet Rich Plasma (L-PRP) to promote healing and speed recovery for patients of all ages. While the healing time may be a bit slower if you are in your 70s or older, your implants are no more likely to fail. In a recent study, the success rate of implants in patients aged 75 or older was 97%.

Interesting fact: The oldest person to get dental implants was Filomena Battista, who received full mouth dental implants when she was 100 years old! The procedure was successful, and she enjoyed them for the rest of her life.

Dental Implants for a Healthy Diet

As we grow older, we often neglect a proper diet. Worn teeth, poorly fitting dentures, and pain from cavities may make it difficult to eat a variety of foods. Eating a soft diet to avoid discomfort creates more problems. Dental implants restore your ability to eat all the foods you love, including crunchy foods that help maintain jaw strength. Variety in your diet ensures you get the nutrients you need for a long and healthy life.

How Dental Implants Prevent Bone Loss

Dental implants do more than restore the look and feel of your natural teeth. They also help preserve your jawbone. When we lose teeth as we age, the jawbone where teeth roots are, begin to deteriorate. You can lose as much as 25% of your jaw’s bone density within a year of losing your teeth. That bone loss weakens your jaw and gives your face a sunken appearance.

Think about the old-time photos you often see of couples from the last century. They look far older than their ages partly because their jawbones have receded, and their lips and cheeks are sunken because of missing teeth. Dental implants encourage bone density and build mass around the titanium posts, which act just like a natural tooth roots.  The implants support crowns or dental prostheses (fixed dentures) which fill out your facial features and prevent that sunken appearance.  In fact, implants and the attached crowns or fixed dentures fill out your facial features, including cheeks and lips, to give your face a youthful, healthy appearance.

Renewed Confidence

No matter your age, you want to look and feel your best. Dental implants restore a beautiful, complete set of teeth. You will be more open to laughing, smiling, and enjoying interacting with others when you have a full set of beautiful, strong teeth. Dental implants are an excellent solution if you are self-conscious about missing teeth. They do not require extra care beyond brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups, making them easy to care for. You can flash your pearly whites without a care when you go out with friends or family.

If you are contemplating dental implants but worry that you are too old, schedule a consultation with Dr. Valiente. He will review the pros and cons of dental implants for all ages and help you choose the tooth replacement option most appropriate for you. Call our office at 813-968-5400 to schedule a consultation.