Age and Dental Implants

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With modern technology, dental implants have become a viable option in restoring missing teeth. When considering if you are a good candidate for dental implant restoration, can age be a determining factor?

Interestingly enough, it is the young that are the most affected by dental implant consideration. If your child lost a primary tooth, you can simply wait until the adult tooth emerges. But if a child loses a permanent tooth, they must wait until their jawbone fully develops before an implant can be an option. When a child loses a permanent tooth, they usually have to wait until the jaw bone, teeth, and the gums mature to provide tissue stability. This usually happens around the age of eighteen. Meanwhile, there are things a dentist can do about the missing tooth until implant restoration can be done.

So while children have to wait, adults can receive an implant at any age. Your dentist will take other factors into consideration such as:
The patient’s general health. Diabetes and smoking are risk factors. These patients would need to be meticulous in caring for their teeth and gums.

The general condition of the patient’s mouth. The teeth and gums need to be in good health. If there is dental decay, gum disease or broken teeth in the mouth, they need to be fixed before a dental implant should be done. You want the mouth to be stable before putting in implants.

Can the patient take good care of the teeth and gums? You need to maintain a very healthy mouth to have implants.

Is there enough bone present to hold an implant? There needs to be the right amount of bone in the right place to support an implant. If there is not a sufficient amount of bone available, there are a range of grafting techniques that can be used. Dr. Rai can provide bone grafting to get your mouth ready for an implant restoration.

Dental implants can help restore your smile, and with the right care, your dental implant can last a lifetime. Please call Rai Family Dentistry at 540-446-5083 if you have any questions about dental implants. We look forward to restoring your smile!