Am I Too Old For Dental Implants
Newport Beach, CA
 It’s not unusual for people to question the viability of various medical procedures once they reach a certain age. And they aren’t entirely wrong. Age can impact the success rate and efficiency of some medical procedures or solutions. But thankfully, implants aren’t one of them. You’re never too old for dental implants. You can be too young for implants, but cannot be denied these dental restorations solely because of your old age. In other words, old age doesn’t make you an unideal candidate for dental implants.
What Can Make You Ineligible for Dental Implants?
This is logically the next question anyone would ask when they are told old age cannot disqualify someone for implants. The factors that can negatively affect your eligibility include:
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Young age; dentists usually do not perform implants for people younger than 18 years of age because the jawbone is still developing at this age and implants can impair it
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Gum disease
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Insignificant amount of jawbone
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Poor oral hygiene
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Smoking
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Tobacco use
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Diseases that negatively impact the jawbone and oral health, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders
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Medications that can disrupt the osseointegration process of the implant
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Chemotherapy of the jaw, neck, or maxillofacial region
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Pregnancy |
There’s no upper age limit for dental implant candidacy. However, there are certain basic requirements that one has to meet to qualify for these prosthetic devices. The basic requirements for a dental implant candidate are:
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Missing teeth
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Fully developed jaws - at least 18 years of age
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Good oral health
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Adequate bone density
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Healthy gums
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Enough space for the new tooth/teeth
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No chronic disease that can interfere with surgery and healing
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Lack of parafunctional habits that can cause the implant to fail, such as excessive smoking or alcohol consumption, or bruxism |
What to Do if You Don’t Meet the Implants’ Eligibility Criteria?
Failure to meet all dental implant eligibility requirements doesn’t necessarily disqualify you from getting the procedure. You may still get them with certain treatments and lifestyle modifications. For example, if you’re being considered unfit for implants due to poor oral hygiene, you can be given a deep dental cleaning and be advised to follow strict oral hygiene protocols for a while to become fit for implants. If you lack bone density, dentists may recommend a bone graft to fix that and make your jawbone strong enough to hold the implant. Certain lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, can also help you qualify for dental implants.
Having said that, you may not be deemed fit for implants if you’re suffering from an incurable disease that has also negatively impacted your oral health. Our dental expert Dr. Kabaklian can help you find viable alternatives. Several other tooth restoration and replacement options are available for people who do not meet the criteria for dental implants. We can help you find one that best suits your needs. Get in touch with us to determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants. Call us today at 949-991-2499 to schedule an appointment! |
