Minimum Age or Age Restriction for Dental Implants
Dental implants are a great alternative to partial dentures - commonly known as "bridges" - or to complete dentures, or dentures, if you need to replace missing roots or teeth. An artificial titanium root is inserted into the jawbone and effectively replaces the natural root. A replacement tooth is then installed on the implanted root, and your smile becomes brighter than ever.
When considering having implants or going for dentures, age is definitely a factor to consider. In fact, some people are concerned that their age prevents them from being able to receive dental implants. This is very fair. Understanding how age can affect such a procedure is essential in determining whether dental implants are the best option for you.
At what age is a dental implant possible?
There is no absolute answer to this question: The age at which jaw growth ends varies from individual to individual. On the other hand, it is possible to establish an approximate average from the age of 18. The main reason we do not recommend dental implants in youth is simple: the whole body is constantly growing, including the bones of the face and jaw. As the jaw grows, the teeth move with the growing bone.
The problem is, the dental implant will not move the same way a natural tooth root will as the body grows.
This lack of movement stops the implant from adjusting to the position of your other teeth, which can eventually cause a host of complications that are both cosmetic and functional. Because of this, until a person is done growing, an implant is not a good option.
Determining the correct age for the placement of a dental implant is essential to the success of the treatment.
When are you too old to receive dental implants?
Contrary to popular belief, there is no age limit for receiving dental implants. Implants can even improve the quality of life for people of all ages, even if these people have more years behind than before.
There is no reason to spend the rest of your life in discomfort when you know that dental implants are a safe and effective solution to replacing one or more missing teeth.
Are seniors good candidates for dental implants?
The success rate of dental implant procedures in older adults is just as impressive as it is in mature adults. Success is the norm even in people 85 and older, and in any case, the recovery period is no longer than in younger patients.
Health problems common to seniors, such as osteoporosis, are not recognized as having a negative impact on the success of dental implants. Even in a person who has suffered a significant loss of bone mass, dental implants can be placed successfully without the need for a bone graft.
Traditional implants or dentures: which is the best choice?
Most dentists and periodontists will recommend dental implants instead of dentures for patients who may receive them, as implants are pretty much the norm these days for replacing missing teeth.
Dentures cause irreversible damage to the jaw and can affect the ability to chew food properly. It is also known that people who wear them must remove their dentures before going to sleep and clean them regularly, which can be time consuming and poses health risks if this task is not done correctly.
With dental implants, such inconveniences are avoided. They are a much more practical solution, which does not jeopardize either health or lifestyle.