Dental Implant over 60
Long gone are the images of older people with thick glasses, missing teeth and canes; now people use contacts, dental implants, and joint replacements to improve their quality of life as they age. People with a single missing tooth or an entire mouth of missing teeth are not doomed to eat soft foods with their dentures the rest of their lives. Adults of any age, including people over 60, are potential candidates for dental implants. The dentist will need to review your medical history, medications, bone density, and history of infections before you are determined to be suitable for dental implants. While your age is a factor, it is not the only determining criteria for dental implant procedures. So you may not actually be too old for dental implants like you previously believed and you could be closer to having a complete smile that looks and functions like your natural teeth.
Osteoporosis
The bone disease that causes your bones to weaken and lose density is known as osteoporosis and it is a very common condition of older people. Women who have gone through menopause are more likely to suffer from osteoporosis and those women have a high chance of losing a tooth due to their osteoporosis. If you have already been diagnosed with osteoporosis, you may still be able to have a dental implant.
Most people with osteoporosis are just as suitable for dental implants as people without it. One of the major benefits of dental implants is that the implant itself stimulates bone growth so it can help your jaw bone if you have already had complications of osteoporosis in your jaw.
Increased Life Expectancy
If you are over 60, you may think that the cost of dental implants is too high for you to use them for just a few years. Dental implants have been proven to last at least 20 years and this generation is living longer than generations in the past. While you do not know exactly how much longer your life will last, if you are trying to eat three meals a day, 365 days a year with dentures, you are suffering with hassles of dentures more than you may realize.
Quality of Life
If you are a relatively healthy adult, then you should talk to the dentist about your options of dental implants. People as old as 85 and 90 have had the procedure done in order to ensure they had a high quality of life every day. With dental implants, people are able to eat their favorite foods without struggling with sliding dentures. They do not need to keep their diet limited to soft foods. They can communicate clearly without having their dentures slip or click while they are talking. Dental implants help keep the remaining teeth healthy by avoiding uneven bite pressure and the implant itself helps keep your jaw bone strong. If you are avoiding spending time with friends and family because you are embarrassed about your smile, your calendar may fill up again once you have dental implants that complete your smile.