Staying healthy as you get older means staying proactive and remaining informed about your dental care. As National Senior Citizen’s Day is celebrated this month, we thought we would tackle a dental myth of aging: “I’m just too old for dental implants”. Getting older does not mean you must live with taking your teeth out every night like your parents or grandparents. Eating nothing but soft food is not the inevitable outcome of aging that most believe it to be.
Advances in dentistry have created several options for the replacement of missing teeth. In years past, it is true that the only option for the loss of all or most teeth was dentures or partial dentures. While conventional dentures are and continue to be a treatment option, we are fortunate to live in an era that other options are available. Unless you have serious health concerns, you are a good candidate for dental implants at any adult age. “Too old” for dental implants doesn’t exist
Another deterrent for senior adults to consider dental implants is the misconception that the financial investment isn’t worth it after a certain age. Life expectancies for mostly healthy people are longer now than in any previous generation. The advancements in medical treatments, and a greater focus on healthy living, mean at 60 or 70 you could easily celebrate another 20 (or more!) birthdays. Do you really want to deal with the hassles of missing teeth or ill-fitting dentures for decades? Do the math–Three meals a day, 365 days a year, for how many years? With dental implants, you could be able to chew properly for the rest of your life, improving your daily quality of life by enjoying food, instead of enduring it.
During the more than 20 years of providing dental implant restorations, Dr. Sambursky has heard again and again from patients that dental implants have improved their overall quality of life. The health benefits alone of dental implants can dramatically improve your quality of life. Changing your diet to soft foods or leaving out certain food groups isn’t good for your health, making maintaining a healthy balance in diet difficult, not to mention unenjoyable. Lastly, “making it work” when you are missing teeth by chewing with your remaining teeth can cause greater dental concerns later.
A personal consultation with our prosthodontist can determine if you a good candidate for dental implants. The one thing that won’t disqualify you for dental implants is your age. Call Dr. Sambursky and the Dental Solutions of Binghamton team today, 607.798.0789, to schedule your consultation and see how dental implants can improve your quality of life and give you back foods you thought you would never eat again.