Can You Be Too Young or Too Old for Dental Implants?
Are you unhappy with traditional dentures but worried you’re too old to get dental implants? Has your child suffered an injury and is missing a tooth, but you’re unsure if they’re too young for the procedure? At Staten Island Aesthetic & Implant Dentist, we often hear patients ask if they’re too young or too old for dental implants. We’ll provide some basic information to answer that question in this blog post. The best way to know if you’re a good candidate, however, is to visit our practice. Our Woodrow office is conveniently located on the South Shore and we’re always welcoming new patients. Until we meet with you, let’s look at some important candidacy factors.
Is There a Maximum Age for Dental Implants?
The older we get, the greater chance there is that we’re missing one or more teeth. So you’ll be happy to learn that you’re never too old to be eligible for dental implants. Instead, there are two important factors that will affect your candidacy in your golden years:
Good Oral Health
You might be surprised to know that you can still have good oral health even at the same time that you’re missing a tooth. What we’re referring to is:
- No periodontal disease
- No untreated decay or cavities
- A sufficient amount of dense, healthy bone to support the implants
By ensuring you have a healthy mouth and a strong jaw, we can ensure the foundation for your implant treatment is sound. If you suffer from gum disease, for example, scaling and root planing or more advanced procedures can help. If you have experienced bone loss (a common effect of tooth loss), we might recommend a bone graft.
I’ve been placing implants and treating related conditions for three decades. I have all the tools you need at my Woodrow office to help you qualify.
Good Overall Health
Implants are an incredible advancement in dentistry. After they’re surgically placed, they actually fuse with the bone. However, certain conditions like uncontrolled diabetes can increase the risk of implant failure. In other words, the fusion process will not take place as it normally would.
We’ll ask detailed questions about your overall health to help rule out conditions that could affect your candidacy. Many of these factors are within your control. In addition to controlling your blood sugar, for example, we might encourage our patients to quit smoking or chewing tobacco.
Is There a Minimum Age for Dental Implants?
Except in the case of wisdom teeth, adult teeth always need to be replaced. We do see younger patients in need of a restorative solution from time to time. You might be considering implants for your child if:
- They’re congenitally missing one or more teeth
- They’ve suffered an injury (in a car accident, riding an electric scooter, or during contact sports, for example) and the tooth cannot be saved
In contrast to there being no age limit for implants, there is a minimum age. That’s because the jawbone must be fully matured and finished growing before we’d recommend placing dental implants. If not, the implants could shift and loosen, or put the alignment and health of other teeth at risk. Generally, the jaw stops growing at around age 16 for girls and 17 for boys. To be on the safe side, 18 is often considered a good minimum age for implants.
It’s important to maintain the space caused by a missing tooth until your child is old enough to receive implants. We can discuss traditional bridges with your family during an initial consultation.
Contact Us for a Dental Implant Consultation
Dental implants are preferred by dentists and patients alike for their unrivaled benefits. If you’re ready to restore your healthy smile or protect your child’s health, reach out to us today. We’re happy to educate you on your options during an evaluation at our Woodrow dental office.
