Can Dental Implants Restore Seniors’ Smiles?

Your oral health is important throughout your life, but it becomes increasingly important once you reach age 50. Senior adults face serious oral health complications – 1 in 5 seniors have untreated tooth decay, and that same number of seniors have missing teeth.

And if you’re missing any teeth, you’re likely feeling less confident. Fortunately, there is a permanent, natural-looking solution that can restore your smile: dental implants.

Dental implants are the perfect replacement for any missing teeth. They can fix an imperfect smile, and they look just like real teeth. In fact, dental implants act like normal teeth. And they’ll last the rest of your lifetime, if cared for properly. With dental implants, you can smile, eat, laugh, and live as normally as you would with your very own teeth.

Here’s everything seniors need to know about dental implants to decide if they’re the right choice.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are replacement teeth. Just like the teeth you were born with, dental implants are rooted in your jawbone. They’re crafted out of materials like ceramic and attached to small rods of titanium.

There’s no solution for missing teeth as permanent as dental implants. Dental implants are drilled into the bone of your jaw, right into the sockets that used to hold your real teeth. The titanium rods of the dental implants fuse to your jawbone, making your implants a part of your jawbone.

Once the rods are in place, crowns are then anchored over the top. This anchors the implants to your jawbone just like your other teeth.

After the implants are implanted, your dentist will then attach crowns that look just like natural teeth to them. Dental implants are a permanent solution for missing teeth. Once they are in place, they are not removed.

Since they are implanted into your jawbone, these new teeth can last for a lifetime. Dental implants never need to be adjusted or sized, fitting perfectly into your natural jaw.

Why Are Dental Implants a Smart Choice?

Most tooth replacement options can come close to replicating your natural teeth. However, dentures, bridges, and other temporary options can’t fully restore your smile. And they can cause a host of problems, from a terrible fit to problems chewing and talking to an unnatural appearance.

Dental implants don’t have any of these issues. They’re one of the best ways to achieve natural looking and feeling teeth once again. The replacement teeth feel like your own, and they’re indistinguishable from your other teeth. Your dental implants will blend in naturally and seamlessly, and can be colored to match the shade of your natural teeth.

Getting dental implants also helps seniors’ oral health by helping to prevent bone loss. When you lose a tooth, the bone underneath it starts to be reabsorbed by your body. Over time, this can make you look older, and your jaw may become weaker and more likely to fracture. When you have dental implants, they help to stabilize your jaw and prevent bone loss. This can be a big benefit for aging adults who are concerned about their overall health.

Implants are a better alternative to dentures and other similar solutions. More comfortable and customized, you never have to worry about an uncomfortable fit or pain. You don’t need to remove them to soak at night or apply any adhesives or creams. Dental implants function like real teeth, allowing you to live life as normally as possible.

Are Dental Implants Expensive?

Dental implants do require special dental work. To get dental implants, you’ll need to consult a cosmetic dentist or oral surgeon who can surgically place each implant.

Because surgery is required, many people worry about the cost of dental implants – especially if more than one implant is needed. A single implant typically starts at $3,000 and can be higher depending on the materials and the surgeon you choose.

Fortunately, dental implants are no longer as expensive as they were in the past. Today, it’s actually possible to save money on dental implants.

In order to find affordable dental implants, you’ll need to search for them. Many searches suggest that promotional offers for dental implant pricing can be as low as $1,500, a savings of 50 percent. It’s important to research different oral surgeons and dental implant options in your area to determine how much you could save. You could also look into low-cost options or places that offer affordable pricing for seniors.

You can also finance the cost of your dental implants with a monthly repayment plan, like those offered through CareCredit. You can pay as little as $70 per month over 48 months, breaking down the cost into more affordable increments. Another option is payments between just $34 and $39 per month, with a final payoff total of $1,017. These give seniors more ways to make dental implants a budget-friendly option.

As well as looking for affordable implants, you can consider having your implants done at a dental school. These teaching programs can offer dental implants at greatly reduced prices so new dentists can learn the procedure while supervised by an experienced dentist. Additionally, if you have dental insurance or a dental discount plan, you can save hundreds more on the cost of implants.

You can also comparison shop for dental implants by searching for dentists in your city. Search dentists in your area who are skilled in dental implants and compare prices – it’s the best way to find low-cost dental implants easily.

See If Dental Implants Are the Right Choice for You Today

If you’re missing any teeth at all, you likely feel embarrassed and afraid to smile. While this is a common problem for seniors across the country, you don’t have to suffer. You can still achieve a flawless smile at any age, all thanks to dental implants.

Dental implants can give you back your smile and help you feel more confident. Implants are the best way to replace your natural teeth. And dental implants are more affordable than many seniors expect.

If you want to know whether affordable dental implants are the right choice for you, you need to do your research. Take time to explore the available options, compare prices from different dentists, and discover ways to enjoy dental implants that suit your smile.