The Comprehensive Guide to Dental Implants For Seniors

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that support a crown or denture that imitate the appearance of your natural tooth. Made of titanium metal, dental implant cost way less than traditional implants and are a reliable option. They are lifelong solutions for missing teeth ensuring overall dental health. 

In this blog post, we discuss dental implants for seniors, how they work, their cost, and where you can find the best dental service in Wilmington NC. Tag along to know more!

How Do Dental Implants Work?

Dental implants are the advanced solution for the replacement of missing teeth that last for a lifetime and function like your original teeth. Here’s the process of placing the dental implants to know how they work: 

• Preliminary Consultation

 The process begins with consulting with a professional dentist, which involves a check-up of your teeth, a necessary x-ray, and a discussion about the whole treatment. 

• Surgical Implant

The next step in the process is the placement of the implant during the surgery. It is typically of two stages including:

• Implant placement: Where the dentist embeds a titanium implant in the jawbone shaped like a screw. The process is completed with a denture or crown on top to give a natural feel to it.
• Healing Period: The second stage of the surgery is the healing period, as important as the surgery to give the implant proper time and care to heal.
• Attaching Abutment

Once the implant has integrated with the jawbone, an abutment will be attached to the implant, serving as the final restoration’s attachment point.

• Final Restoration

At last, the abutment is firmly secured with a custom-made dental crown, bridge, or denture. The restoration is made to blend seamlessly with the surrounding teeth in terms of colour, form, and size.

Factors Considering Dental Implants for Senior Citizens

When it comes to dental implant for seniors, there are several factors to take into account. Here’s what you need to know:

Oral Health Issues Faced by Seniors

1. Jawbone Density: A person’s bone density may decline with age, which may have an impact on the stability and strength of the jawbone. Supporting dental implants may become difficult as a result of this loss of bone density.
2. Gum disease: Seniors are more prone to gum diseases, which can jeopardise the gum and surrounding tissues for seniors. And that can make dental implants difficult for seniors.
3. Medical Conditions: Several illnesses, including diabetes and osteoporosis in elderly people, can affect how quickly teeth implants heal and raise the possibility of complications.

Suitability of Dental Implants for Seniors

• Better Quality of Life: By enabling seniors to eat, speak, and smile with confidence again, dental implants can dramatically enhance their quality of life.
• Long-Term Solution: For seniors searching for a dependable and long-lasting tooth replacement alternative, dental implants provide a long-lasting solution.
• Preservation of Jawbone: Dental implants stimulate the jawbone, which helps to maintain bone density and stop the jaw from gradually deteriorating

Special Considerations for Seniors 

• Complete Evaluation: To determine their oral health, bone density, and general fitness for the treatment, seniors considering dental implants should have a full assessment performed by a licenced dentist.
• Proactive Measures: If there are any current medical issues or dental concerns that could affect the outcome of the dental implant treatment, precautions may need to be followed.
• Careful Approach: To reduce trauma and promote the best possible healing, extra caution should be used when surgically implanting dental implants in elderly patients.
• Post-Procedure Care: To encourage healing and lower the risk of problems, seniors may need extra help and direction.

Dental Implants Cost

Many factors determine the cost of dental implants. Here are some of the important factors: 

1. Implant Materials

The cost of an implant can be affected by the material selection, which is usually zirconia or titanium. Since titanium implants have a track record of longevity and jawbone integration, they are more widely used.

• Size and Complication: The cost of an implant operation is influenced by its size and complexity. Higher costs will be incurred in more severe instances, such as those requiring extra treatments like bone grafting.
• Location: The geographic location of the dentist may also impact the cost of dental implants. Dental operations are generally more expensive in urban locations or places with greater cost of living than in rural areas.
• Experience of Dentist: The cost of the operation may vary depending on the expertise and skill of the oral surgeon or dentist. Experts or professional Dentist in Wilmington NC, with more education, may bill more for their services.

Other than these, factors like the number of implants, brands, anesthesia, and post-surgery care also play a part in the overall cost of dental implants.

Takeaway

Dental implants are the best option for replacing missing teeth. However, it’s important to consider general health, bone density, and pre-existing dental issues when considering dental implants for seniors. To determine the suitability and create a customised treatment plan that meets your needs, you can consider speaking with professionals at Wilmington Dental Implants.