Why You Need Dental Implants as a Senior

by Calyn Ehid
As we get older, the overall health of our teeth starts to decline. Even if you have brushed and flossed twice a day for the last 30 years, your teeth may inevitably decay – it’s simply a fact of old age. Because of this decay, you might have to have a tooth completely extracted because it is unfixable or one may just fall out one day. Now you will be left with a hole in your gum line that might make you embarrassed to open your mouth when you speak or to smile like you normally would.Just because you are elderly doesn’t mean that you stop caring about your appearance. A missing tooth would definitely be a cause for concern. Although this may feel like an alarming situation, there is a very easy fix to this problem – a dental implant.Why You Need Dental Implants As A SeniorDental implants replace a missing tooth by placing a small screw/post in your gum line. Then, a replacement tooth or “cap” is screwed on to, giving you a realistic-looking and sturdy new tooth. The oral surgeon will match the exact shade of the replacement tooth to the rest of your teeth so some people may not even be able to notice that you have a fake tooth.There is no reason that a day should go buy when you are uncomfortable with your smile or your oral health when there is such a simple solution such as dental implants. Depending on what your dental surgeon recommends, local sedation, oral sedation, moderate IV sedation or general anesthesia will be used during this surgery and with any of the above, you will not feel any pain during the procedure.The recovery time is relatively short and before you know it, you will be smiling and eating like you used to. For seniors, there are a lot of other ways that dental implants can improve their oral health. Let’s discuss a few of the most important reasons.

Fill Any Gaps in Your Teeth

 Dental implants will fill any gaps you may have in your smile due to tooth decay or tooth removal. Just because seniors are elderly doesn’t mean that they don’t care about their appearance. Having a missing tooth can make seniors embarrassed to smile or communicate like normal. In addition to looks, having a missing tooth can make eating your favorite foods difficult or even painful. Because a tooth was normally present in that hole, sharper foods can scratch and irritate your gums, making eating a frustrating process altogether.If you are ready to fill the gap in your smile, start with a consultation with an oral surgeon and they will go over the procedure and the pricing structure. Without dental insurance, one dental implant typically costs $1000 to $3000. If you have dental insurance, partial or the full cost might be covered. If you have already scheduled your consultation with a dental surgeon, make sure you also contact your insurance provider to see what is and is not covered in your plan.Next