Technology in dentistry has improved dramatically over the last several decades. Rather than needing to send out for physical x-rays, digital x-rays are taken in the office and observed on a computer. Instead of waiting for crowns, digital dental technology allows all-ceramic crowns to be completed in a single office visit.  Digital dentistry has also improved tooth-replacement options for adults with missing teeth.

It used to be that if a patient was missing teeth the only option for replacement was a full or partial denture or a bridge. That is no longer the case. There are many reasons dental implants are usually the best option for replacing missing teeth.  They vary in importance from person to person based on lifestyle, however the following three are of major consideration for most patients.

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Holiday gatherings are all about spending time with family and friends and the centerpiece of these celebrations is often food.  Traditional family favorites are probably on the menu—turkey, stuffing, corn, cauliflower, broccoli, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pecan pie. When considering dental implants, you may have some concerns regarding what you can and can’t eat on the table.  Which of these foods should be avoided with dental implants?  The short answer is none of them.  The rule of thumb when eating with dental implants is to eat anything that you can cut with a fork.

Holiday eating and snacking can be embarrassing, even painful, if you have poor dental health like missing teeth or jaw-bone deterioration.  Removable dentures also present problems as they only restore 20-30% of your natural chewing capacity.

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According to aaid-implant.org, “The American Academy of Implant Dentistry aims to empower individuals considering dental implants through education and celebrate those who are already living a life full of smiles with their dental implants.”  In addition to offering great educational resources about dental implants, the AAID also sponsors the annual celebration of Dental Implant Awareness Month in September.  In honor of the month, we join the movement by asking “What’s your reason to smile?”.

Considering dental implants is more than a matter of vanity, but truly a matter of functionality. When comparing to dentures and bridges, patients who turn to dental implants discover that they feel, look, fit and function like healthy, natural teeth. Activities like brushing and flossing are the same as with their natural teeth. They are also finding that dental implants are a long-term solution to revitalizing their smile, as dental implants last many decades when cared for properly.

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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

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