Are Dental Implants Worth It for a Patient Near 70?

Question

This is a 2 implants and 3 teeth on the left upper side of my mouth. There are no more teeth after to hook anything to it.. it does not show when I smile, but find it difficult to chew properly.. now only on the right side..

Michael J. Thomas, DDS · Answer

Yes, its a great idea. Being able to chew food for the next 25 years will improve your overall health. Also if you can only chew on the opposite side then those overused teeth can start to have problems and it becomes a dominoe affect.

H. Ryan Kazemi, DMD · Answer

Dental implants are equally successful in older patients. I have placed implants in patients who were 85 or more. Many patients are relatively healthy and live a full life and continue to enjoy eating, socializing, and being active. I think dental implant therapy is a great service for such patients who otherwise will experience great difficulties.

	I am often asked about osteoporosis. It is important to know that osteoporosis is not a contraindication as implants are equally successful in such patients.

	Please read my article on RealSelf for more on this topic:  Do dental implants really work? Misconceptions and the truth about dental implants

John Whittemore, DDS · Answer

If it makes you feel better, I had a lady a couple of years ago who went into full braces at 70 before having a couple of implants placed and most of her remaining teeth restored. She loves it - I was recently invited to a small birthday party for her husband who's mouth I restored after hers! The right dentist will make it work for you and you'll be so glad you did it for yourself! Might as well enjoy your time here - you can't take it with you! Best of luck!!!

M. Andrew Atwood, DDS · Answer

You probably have a long life ahead of you.  If you look at an age adusted life expectancy table, it suggests that if  your age is currently 67 you could expect that your average life expectancy would be an additional 17.7 years.  That is a long time to enjoy living.  And remember 17.7 is an average. 

	I imagine that people who are happier with the quality of their life and have a positive outlook, and plan on living long enough to enjoy the teeth they recently paid for, will be on the upper end of the average. :-)  So plan on getting the implants and then plan on enjoying them for a long time.

Susan Goode Estep, DMD · Answer

They say that now teh "60s" are the new "40s!" If you are in good health and you are having difficulty chewing on the left side due to teeth that are missing, then implants is the way to go. Make sure you're going to someone experienced in placing implants as well as an experienced dentist who has a lot of success restoring implants. These two implants may help you chew and enjoy food better -- enabling you to eat healthier - and live even longer!

Olga Kharevich, DMD, PhD (in memoriam) · Answer

The quality of life for any patient consist of function and esthetic components. And functional part is usually the leading factor to improve the existing restorations and transfer the patient from edentulous or removable state to fixed and more comfortable. The age of the patient is a limiting factor considering implant treatment only in children and teenagers. More important is the medical condition of the patient when implant treatment is planned. Smoking, decompensated diabetes , history of iv bisphosphonates are the most common risk factors that can impair the healing process and decrease the success of implant integration. Otherwise, the elderly patient should not be concerned about getting implant treatment done.

Are Dental Implants Worth It for a Patient Near 70?

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