Age and Dental Implants: What Patients Should Know
When you’re missing a tooth or many teeth, it can cause a number of dental health and smile aesthetics issues. Thankfully Dr. Eugene D. Stanislaus and Dr. Lisa Reid offer numerous treatments for tooth loss at their Brooklyn Heights, NY practice, including dental implants. These artificial tooth roots can support crowns, bridges, and dentures with the stability of natural tooth roots.
Age can play a factor in who gets dental implants and who doesn’t. Let’s take a moment to consider the interplay of dental implant candidacy and the age of the patient.
Rates of Tooth Loss By Patient Age
Rates of tooth loss will help explain the usual age range when most patients get dental implants. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) has some fascinating numbers about tooth loss and age. Keep in mind that there are 28 teeth in the average mouth without wisdom teeth.
- Adults age 20 to 64 averaged 24.92 teeth remaining. Only 3.75 percent of people in this age bracket were missing all of their teeth.
- Seniors age 65 and older averaged 18.9 teeth remaining. Around 27.27 percent of people in this age bracket were missing all of their teeth.
Why Dental Implants Are More Common in Older Patients
As you can see from the figures above, tooth loss is more common in older people, usually as the result of long-tern wear and tear on the teeth. This is why the team at Brooklyn Heights Dental stresses the importance of preventative care. This helps avoid cavities, gum disease, and acid erosion that can eventually cause or contribute to tooth loss later in life.
When tooth loss does occur, however, our team can help with dental implant treatment as long as the patient is a good candidate. This is where age becomes an interesting factor.
What Is the Oldest Age a Person Can Get Dental Implants?
Technically, there is no upper age limit for when a person can get dental implants. In theory, a person can get dental implants placed in their 80s and 90s so long as they are healthy enough. However, not everyone is healthy enough to undergo oral surgery late in life.
This is why the consultation process is so important. During a consultation at our practice we can assess your candidacy for dental implants and determine if it’s an ideal solution for you and your needs.
What Is the Youngest Age a Person Can Get Dental Implants?
While there is no upper limit on dental implant patient age, patients do need to be at least 18 years old if not older to get dental implants. Teenagers and children are still growing, meaning that their jawbone will undergo a number of changes as part of the maturation process. If dental implants are placed too soon, it can lead to serious issues with the health of the jawbone, in addition to increased risk of implant failure.
Are Dental Implants a Good Option for Me?
They might be. If you’re old enough and you have sufficient jawbone density, dental implants could be the solution you’ve been waiting for. We encourage you to visit Brooklyn Heights Dental to find out if implant dentistry is right for you.
Learn More About Implant Dentistry
If you would like more information about dental implants and how they can benefit you, be sure to contact our skilled team of dentists. You can reach our practice by phone at (877) 481-8882.