Dental implants for seniors are becoming quite popular for good reason. Dental implants have distinct advantages for your smile, including ease and sturdiness.
You’ve had to go in and have a few of your teeth pulled recently, leaving an embarrassing gap where they used to be. As you age, this problem becomes more common than you would think.
Many seniors have missing teeth and gaps that need have to get filled with dentures or some kind of dental implants. The latter has become much more popular with the elderly as of late, and for good reason.
Dental implants for seniors look so natural that nobody will be able to notice that you’re wearing them. They’re also sturdy and more hygienic than your traditional dentures.
Are you still left weighing your options? Check out this guide to read the dental implant meaning and find out if they are right for you.
Dental Implants Are Permanent
The dental implants process involves placing the implants to your jawbone. They become a permanent part of your smile. Dentures do not.
They’re placed inside the mouth using adhesive. As you go about your day, this adhesive begins to loosen. When this happens, the dentures will start to move around, making it difficult to eat.
They might even slip out of your mouth when you’re talking, which is more than embarrassing. As the dentures move, they may rub against your gums and cause irritation as well.
Implants don’t move around or become loose. You’ll still be able to eat and talk the same way you did with your natural teeth.
Dentures Cause a Lot of Problems
There are some good aspects of dentures. It’s easy to take them out and clean them for example. Dentures cause their fair share of problems though.
They make it hard to eat to the point where you may have to take them out altogether. As you age, your jaw bone ages and changes as well. Your dentures won’t change with it, which can make them grow uncomfortable over time.
Dental Implants Act Like Your Natural Teeth
No matter how realistic your dentures look, they can’t mimic your natural teeth. They don’t have the same feel. The biggest advantage of implants for elderly patients is how closely they resemble real teeth.
Seniors can live a completely normal life with implants. You won’t have to take any special precautions when eating and speaking. They’ll be secure enough to handle even the toughest meals you throw at them.
You also won’t have to schedule additional dental appointments for adjustments. Once they’re in, you’re good to go about your regular life. Whereas, dentures have to be adjusted as your jaw changes shape.
Dental Implants Are Much More Hygienic
It is true that it’s easy to care for dentures. All you have to do is take them out and clean them. This doesn’t mean that they are more hygienic than implants.
In fact, the opposite is true. Denture adhesive uses acrylic and other materials that aren’t that great for your gums. They also contain a heavy amount of zinc.
Your body does need a good supply of zinc, but if you get it in excess, it can cause a number of health problems.
Not only do implants not need adhesive to stay in place, but they are smooth and often ceramic. It’s harder for food to stick to them.
Implants Allow for Healthy Jaw Bone Growth
Missing teeth can cause the bone in your jaw to decay after a while. Since dentures don’t attach to the jawbone, they can’t stop this process from happening. Dental implants can.
They fix to the bone like your natural teeth once did. It keeps your bone structure strong and stops it from decaying.
Implants are Sturdy
There are different types of dental implants. They are either made out of titanium or zirconium depending on the kind. Both of them are sturdy in their own right.
The titanium option is supported by a strong titanium bar. Zirconium implants don’t have the same kind of support, but they don’t really need it because of how strong the material is. No matter what you put your implants through, zirconium can take it.
If you take care of them the way you should, both titanium and zirconium implants should last for years to come.
Save Money
It’s true that the upfront cost for implants is quite expensive, however, once you have them put in that’s it. That’s all the money you’ll have to spend.
Dentures aren’t as sturdy as implants. It’s possible for them to crack or break if you bite down too hard.
You also have to make additional dental appointments to have them adjusted. All of these factors make dentures much more expensive in the long run.
Implants are Customizable
When you choose dentures, you’ll be picking a set out of a catalog. Implants are designed especially for you in a computer program. You get complete control of not only the size and shape of the implants but the shade as well.
If you want them to be the same shade of the teeth you lost, the dentist can do it. You can customize them to match the teeth surrounding the implants as well.
You can make them the pearliest white imaginable too. The choice is all yours.
Dental Implants for Seniors Are the Better Choice
Do you have the difficult choice of picking between dentures or dental implants for seniors? While they both have their own charm and set of pros and cons, implants are becoming a much more popular choice.
The upfront cost is expensive, but it’s worth it to have a sturdy and beautiful smile that you can be proud of.
Are you ready to get fitted for your dental implants? Contact Dr. Dino Mantis in Wilmette, IL to set up an appointment today.
