Dental Implants and Age Range for Treatment
Tooth loss can negatively impact daily life, making it difficult to eat and embarrassing to smile. Dental implants replace missing teeth, restoring dental function and the smile’s appearance.
At Whiteman Dental Associates, Dr. Daniel Whiteman can pair dental implants with a variety of restorations, including dental crowns and implant-supported dentures, to replace one or more missing teeth.
Dental implants are a great option for many people but there are some things to be aware of when it comes to dental implants and age for our patients in Brookline, MA, Boston, MA, and surrounding areas. Let’s take a closer look at the age range for dental implants.
How Young Can a Person Be for Dental Implant Placement?
Dental implant treatment is for adults and should not be used on anyone younger than 18. This is because children may not have all of their teeth yet and their jaws are still growing. Dental implants are intended to be permanent. A child’s growing jaw can cause an implant to fail.
Although 18 is the earliest dental implants may be placed, it still may be too early for some patients to undergo dental implant treatment.
Is There an Age Limit for Dental Implant Treatment?
No. There isn’t an upper age limit for dental implant treatment. Dental implants are often a great solution for adults who have lost one or multiple teeth. Older adults, including individuals over 60 and those who are in their 90s, can be helped with dental implant treatment.
Other Age Considerations For Dental Implants
Although there isn’t technically an upper age limit for dental implant treatment, not all adults are ideal candidates. Age and the length of time someone has lived with tooth loss can all impact candidacy for dental implants. For example:
- Patient health: Elderly patients are more likely to have health concerns that may make them not good candidates for dental implant surgery. Undergoing the surgery to place the implants may be too risky for some patients.
- Jawbone quality: Older patients are more likely to have lived with tooth loss longer than younger patients. This can affect the jawbone, causing bone loss where teeth have been missing. In order to place a dental implant, there must be sufficient jawbone. A bone graft can be performed to build up the jawbone but this adds significant time to dental implant treatment, which may not be ideal for elderly patients.
- Senior patients can be good candidates: Provided that the patient is healthy enough to undergo dental implant surgery and has sufficient jawbone, patients in their 70s, 80s, or 90s can be good candidates for dental implants.
Find Out if Dental Implants Are Right for You
Dental implants can be paired with dental crowns, bridges, or dentures to restore individual missing teeth up to a full arch. If you are missing one or more teeth, dental implants may be right for you. To find out if you’re a candidate, or to discuss your other dental needs, call our Brookline office at (617) 731-4746 to schedule a consultation.
