Benefits of Dental Implants for Seniors

For many years, dentists have made therapeutic dentistry a part of their practice, prescribing implants for patients who have lost several teeth from complications due to age or disease. In the most recent years, oral health has taken a back seat to overall well-being, and as a result, the number of people seeking dental implants has greatly increased.

What are dental implants? Essentially, they are prosthetic teeth that look, feel, and function just like natural teeth. The main difference is that implants are surgically implanted in the jawbone, where they will remain for the rest of the patient's life. In some cases, the gums are stitched back together to ensure that the implants are completely enclosed in the jawbone.

Why Should You Consider Dental Implants?

The most obvious and immediate benefit of dental implants is that they allow for the immediate replacement of a tooth. After a tooth is extracted due to disease or injury and there is no suitable replacement available, the surgeon will insert a dental implant as a temporary measure to ensure that the patient's dentition does not become disjointed. Even if healing is uneventful and the implant does not need to be removed, the patient will still experience a great deal of discomfort.

In addition to replacing missing teeth, dental implants can also be used to secure teeth that are at risk of falling out. If a patient experiences a jaw fracture that threatens the stability of one or more of their teeth, they will need to consider having dental implants placed in order to restore their natural dentition. The use of dental implants in these instances ensures that the teeth remain stable and do not become more susceptible to damage or breakage.

What Are The Most Popular Dental Implants?

Dental implants are most frequently used in the United States to replace single teeth. For decades, dentists have performed sinus lifts to elevate and relocate the roots of damaged or missing teeth, effectively acting as a bridge between the remaining teeth and the bone. However, in recent years, oral surgeons have begun using dental implants in a different way: they are now placing dental implants in the jawbone as a replacement for one or more teeth, resulting in a larger jawbone structure above the implant. The use of these larger implants results in improved stability and an overall greater experience for the patient, who will not require bone grafting procedures in the future.

How Do You Get The Most Out Of Your Dental Implants?

As mentioned, dental implants are placed in the jawbone in order to replace one or more missing teeth. However, due to advances in dentistry and the increasing demand for better oral health, there are several ways that you can get the most out of your implants instead of simply replacing missing teeth. First, take care of the implant itself: make sure that it is clean and that you have sufficient oral hygiene around it. Second, you can use the implant to its fullest extent by applying a prosthetic tooth to it through a process known as ‘teaching’. Third, make sure that you communicate with your dentist regarding any complications that you might experience as a result of your implants: sometimes, the oral surgeon will need to make adjustments during the process of integrating the implant into your jawbone. In the event of any unforeseen problems, you and your dentist can work together to find a suitable solution.

In addition to replacing missing teeth, dental implants can also be used to restore teeth that are at risk of falling out. If a patient experiences a jaw fracture that threatens the stability of one or more of their teeth, they will need to consider having dental implants placed in order to restore their natural dentition. The use of dental implants in these instances ensures that the teeth remain stable and do not become more susceptible to damage or breakage.

What Are The Longer-Term Benefits Of Dental Implants?

Aside from replacing missing teeth and securing teeth that are at risk of falling out, there are several other advantages to dental implants. First, studies have shown that patients with implants require less pain medication than patients who do not have implants. Second, due to their resilient nature, implants can be used to ‘foster’ bone growth in the jawbone, effectively acting as a natural tooth root for any subsequent teeth that are implanted in the area. Third, implants can be used to improve chewing efficiency and reduce wear on the jawbone caused by excessive mastication. Fourth, studies have shown that people with implants require less dental work than people who do not have implants, indicating that implants can improve the quality of life for the patient.

With all of these advantages, it is not difficult to understand why so many people are choosing to have dental implants. Due to advances in dentistry and the increasing demand for better oral health, there are several ways that you can get the most out of your implants instead of simply replacing missing teeth.