Along with aging comes plenty of challenges. From aches and pains to medical issues, seniors must deal with a wide variety of changing conditions. For many seniors, losing their teeth is a very difficult challenge, both from a cosmetic and health standpoint. Fortunately, dental implants for seniors can help provide an outstanding treatment option for replacing missing teeth.
What are dental implants?
A dental implant is simply a replacement tooth for one that has been extracted or is damaged and decayed. Each implant is a metal rod inserted within the jawbone to provide a solid foundation for biting and chewing, capped by a dental crown.
Advantages of Dental Implants
- Firmly anchored within the mouth. Will not slip or fall out.
- Appearance and color matches surrounding teeth.
- Prevents bone loss associated with missing teeth.
- Sturdy and long lasting.
Why Dental Implants Are Desirable for Seniors
Now that you have reached your golden years, you will have a few health decisions to make. The good news is that dental implants are such a clearly superior treatment choice that this particular decision is easy to make.
One of the main reasons that dental implants are popular with seniors is that they are very long lasting. In fact, they should last you for the rest of your life. Here are a few other benefits of dental implants:
1. Enhances Appearance and Self-Esteem
Your teeth and smile play an enormous role in your appearance. If you have a missing tooth, you may be reluctant to smile because you are afraid that others will notice. In addition, having a missing tooth can lead to the facial structure collapsing inward, making you look much older than your actual age.
A dental implant provides both the look and function of a natural tooth. It will fill in the space and prevent bone loss from occurring. So you will be more confident and outgoing, knowing that your smile is unaffected and your health is maintained.
2. Permanent Replacement
Dentures and bridges make good tooth replacement options for many people, but they are only temporary. Dentures only last for a few years because the gums will change their shape over time. And bridges are nice, but they compromise the health of adjacent teeth.
Implants should last for the rest of your life if you care for them properly. They will never need removing, realigning or adjusting.
3. Enhanced Comfort and Convenience
Unlike dentures, which must be periodically removed and cleaned, implants are a fixed solution for missing teeth. They will not irritate your gums, slip, or lose their comfortable fit.
4. Speaking and Eating Are Easier
Your new dental implants will function precisely the same way as your natural teeth, allowing you to speak and eat as you normally do. This is greatly superior to dentures that tend to shift in the mouth, making it harder for you to speak clearly and eat your favorite foods.
5. Protecting Nearby Teeth
If you are getting a dental bridge, the teeth anchoring the bridge must be ground down. Although this is unavoidable, this process weakens the teeth, which often causes problems down the road.
When getting dental implants, there is no need to grind down surrounding teeth. They can remain in their normal shape. Your new dental implants will protect your original teeth by preventing them from shifting into the gap left by the missing teeth.
Schedule Your Consultation for Dental Implants
Would you like to learn more about dental implants for seniors? Learn more about All On 4 Dental Implants, and explore the cost of dental implants or contact our dentist in Boulder today to request your dental implants consultation as your first step in enhancing the appearance of your teeth and smile.