Are you looking for authentic information on dental implants for seniors? Aging is inevitable. As you age, your dental health deteriorates. Aging makes you susceptible to tooth loss, decay, gum disease, and many other complications. Dental implants have emerged as a highly effective option for seniors to improve the function and look of their teeth.

An Overview - Dental Implants

Dental implants are a prosthesis dentists use to replace damaged, broken, or missing teeth. Many seniors undergo this treatment to improve their oral health and quality of life. What are implants? They are artificial structures made using a metal called titanium.

How is It Performed?

This dental procedure contains six stages. Let us explore these six stages to learn more about this dental procedure.

• Initial Consultation
• Placement of Implants
• Healing and Recovery
• Building Implant Restoration
• Abutment Placement
• Final Implant Restoration

Initial consultation

Senior people might be experiencing many health complications. So, the dentist will assess the overall health condition of the patient. After checking the medical records, the dentist will decide whether the patient is healthy enough to undergo a dental implant procedure.

If there are no significant health issues, the dentist will evaluate your oral health. The surgeon will ask you to take X-rays or CT scans to determine the most suitable placement for the implants. Look for an experienced dentist near me to develop a systematic treatment plan.

Implant Placement

Within 1 or 2 weeks of the initial consultation, the dentist will place the implant into the gum and jaw bone. Cleaning and stitching the surrounding area is essential to ensure fast healing.

Healing and Recovery Phase

This is the third phase of dental implants for seniors. The initial healing process may take 1 or 2 weeks. However, patients must wait 3 to 6 months to let the implant fuse or bond perfectly with the jaw bone.

Building Implant Restoration

Building implant restoration is a natural process. At the same time, you will have to visit the dentist a few times for follow-up appointments. As the healing process continues, the dental surgeon will take impressions of your implant, teeth, and gums. These images will help the dental technicians make the prosthetic or replacement tooth.

Placement of Abutment

The abutment is placed one or two weeks before the final appointment. It is the component that attaches to the implant. Further, the abutment works as a connector for the prosthetic crown.

Final Implant Restoration

Visit the dentist 1 or 2 weeks after the abutment placement for the final implant restoration. This is when the dentist attaches the custom-made replacement teeth to the abutment to complete the dental implant procedure.

Different Types of Implants

You can find various types of dental implants nowadays. The most popular options are:

1. Endosteal
2. Subperiosteal
3. Zygomatic

Important Considerations

Dental implants are an invasive procedure. It can be expensive as well. So, choose this procedure only if it is affordable for you. The dentist will decide if you are a good candidate for this surgery. If you have gum disease, it needs to be solved before performing dental implants.

The deteriorating health of senior people may lead to pre-treatment surgeries. Sometimes, a bone graft may become unavoidable to restore the jaw bone. Another possible pre-treatment surgery is bone smoothing. Based on the current oral and overall health, the pre-treatment surgery phase may last between 3 and 12 months.

Vital Benefits of Dental Implants for Seniors

Improved appearance is one of the most vital benefits of dental implants for seniors. That is to say, you can enjoy excellent cosmetic benefits. The sustainable results will make you more attractive and confident.
Other benefits include superior bone health, improved chewing ability, and better oral hygiene. This dental procedure also enhances your speech. You can expect long-lasting results. Overall, it transforms the dental health of senior people and improves the quality of life.