Dental implants are an excellent alternative for repairing a bridge or denture if you are missing a tooth or numerous teeth. They provide the same solidity as natural tooth roots, allowing individuals to smile confidently. However, you might wonder if there is a minimum age to get Annapolis dental implants.
Is there a minimum age for dental implants?
A patient should have attained skeletal maturity before receiving dental implants. In other words, their jaw bone has matured and will not experience any more growth surges. If dental implants are inserted before puberty while the jaw is still forming, the restorations may interfere with subsequent bone formation, reducing longevity and perhaps leading to issues.
These include an increased risk of:
- Spaces between teeth
- Bite issues
- Aesthetic changes in the craniofacial region
- Bone loss around the prosthetic
While every adolescent is different, jaw development normally continues until 18, 19, or 20. In other situations, individuals are in their mid-20s when they reach full skeletal maturity. As a result, teenagers under 18 are sometimes ineligible for dental implant implantation unless they have attained bone maturity.
Are implants only for the elderly?
Many patients mistakenly assume that tooth loss primarily affects the elderly. Full dentures, for example, are associated with their grandparents and great-grandparents. However, tooth loss can occur at any age, and dental implants can help all individuals, regardless of age.
Is there an age limit for dental implants?
Dental implants have no age limit. Dental implants, however, may be more expensive than alternative solutions. Patients in their late senior years may not consider the expenditure on a dental implant to be worthwhile. Some individuals may seek more conservative, less expensive choices like complete or partial dentures to satisfy their demands.
Are you a candidate for dental implants?
Patients will need to be assessed by a dental specialist before installing a dental implant to see if their smile is ready for these restorations. A dental implant’s success is determined by examining the patient’s jawbone and ensuring enough bone to retain the implant. The dental implant may fail if there is insufficient bone.
Patients can have x-ray imaging done, which allows the dentist to assess the condition of the bone and determine if they are a good candidate for implants. Suppose patients are serious about getting dental implants in the future and want to prepare their mouths for them. In that case, they should inquire about bone grafting to rebuild the jawbone in preparation for implant insertion later. Talk to a dentist today to learn more.
