Dental implants in St John’s Wood: does age matter?
Due to advances in modern medicine, there is an ever increasing demographic trend towards a larger number of older patients who wish to replace their missing teeth with dental implants. Many of these patients are missing teeth for various reasons – old age, gum disease and trauma are the most frequent.
Conventional replacement of missing teeth, such as crowns and bridges offer short-term benefits and are not preferred by many of these patients.
At Aura Dental in St John’s Wood, dental implants are our treatment of choice for patients who have lost one, several or all of their natural teeth. Unlike conventional bridges and dentures, dental implants are permanently attached to the jawbone and create a stable foundation for replacement teeth. Age as a factor in implant success has been a concern among many patients.
Older patients, theoretically, have potentially longer healing times, more health issues to consider, and the likelihood of poorer jawbone quality. Nevertheless, a number of studies conducted on dental implant patients indicate that the procedure is safe and effective for adults of any age.
Health issues to consider
Age is not a determinant factor for dental implants; however, health is. As with any other medical procedure, implant surgery works better for patients who are in generally good health. Generally, if you are healthy enough for an oral tooth extraction or oral surgery in general, you are a good candidate for dental implants in St John’s Wood.
However, patients suffering from certain health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease may experience longer healing times. For this reason, it is always advised to let your dentist know of your condition in advance.
Another factor to consider when contemplating dental implants is jawbone health. Your jawbone must be healthy and strong enough to support your dental implants properly. If you experience jawbone loss, you can still have dental implants, with or without a bone graft. In any case, your dentist will ensure the best chance of long-term success of your dental implants.