If we go several decades back in history, then we’d find tooth loss to be one of the most pressing challenges for seniors. Fortunately, that’s no longer the case – full mouth dental implants for seniors have helped alleviate this challenge like a breeze!
The entire goal of modern restorative dentistry is to come up with such developments and innovations that’d tackle the issue of tooth loss from its very core, and full mouth dental implants have materialised this goal into a reality. Though implants have significantly eased the lives of edentulous patients (regardless of their age), they have been extremely helpful for seniors.
However, a lot of seniors are oblivious to the benefits of dental implants and frequently opt for traditional methods of teeth restoration. Hence, in this blog, we’ll look at how and why dental implants can significantly transform seniors’ smiles so they may make their restorative choices with full confidence.
What Are Dental Implants?
Let’s start from the very basics and have a basic overview of what dental implants are and how they differ from other traditional restorative devices.
Dental implants, by definition, are ‘artificial tooth roots’ made up of a biocompatible material (could be a metal such as titanium or a ceramic such as Zirconia). These are screw-shaped fixtures that are placed into the jawbone of an edentulous patient via minimally invasive surgery. The rationale behind their placement in the jaw is to provide a substitute for the missing tooth roots and, consequently, to have a solid foundation to which prosthetic teeth (such as crowns, bridges and dentures) can be attached.
In this way, a holistic and comprehensive replacement for missing teeth can be achieved (in which the missing tooth is restored in its absolute entirety, including the root and the rest of the lost tooth structure), making the restoration ‘permanent’ in the sense that it’ll last for several years on end due to being anchored in the jaw.
As such, dental implants are the core component that enables permanent teeth replacement and that distinguishes traditional prosthesis devices (such as tooth/gum-supported crowns, bridges and dentures, all of which restore missing teeth superficially) from their implant-supported counterparts.
What Are Full Mouth Dental Implants?
Now that we’ve understood the basics of dental implants, let’s shift our focus to understanding what full mouth dental implants are, as they’re the most relevant for seniors.
Full mouth dental implants, as the term very clearly indicates, is an implant-based treatment that gives you new teeth for the entire mouth. In other words, it’s a treatment designed for people who suffer from complete edentulism (i.e. the loss of all the teeth in the mouth or the loss of a full dental arch). Complete edentulism could be due to very many reasons, such as trauma, certain medical/genetic conditions, advanced gum disease, and age-related dental decline.
In this treatment, a few dental implants (ranging from 4-6 or could be more depending on the jawbone health of the patient) are inserted into the fully toothless jaw, after which a permanent denture (a set of artificial dental arch) is attached to them. These implants hold the denture firmly within the jawbone, allowing for a new complete smile.
How Do Full Mouth Dental Implants Benefit Seniors?
We just detailed how full mouth dental implants can be a saviour for seniors suffering from complete tooth loss, giving them a ‘new complete smile’. But is a new smile the only benefit offered by full mouth implants to seniors? Definitely not! Here’s how full mouth dental implants can transform your smile:
- Full mouth implants don’t just give you a new set of teeth – they give you a ‘healthy’ set of teeth. Implants are made of biocompatible health friendly materials (meaning they integrate well with the surrounding jawbone, forming a nice and sturdy fusion with it, just like your tooth roots would). This means that you’ll never have any negative side effects or allergies from the implants.
- Extending the healthy aspect of the implants, it’s worth mentioning that implants save you from the horrid jawbone loss that follows complete edentulism (which causes your entire facial profile to droop and go out of shape). Implants prevent this from happening by providing your jawbone with the same vital stimulation that was earlier being provided by your teeth, thereby keeping the jawbone healthy and voluminous.
- Besides being healthy, your new smile will be highly durable as well. This smile is permanent, meaning it will last for several years and could even last a lifetime if taken care of, making it 100 times more durable than traditional removable dentures.
- The very design of implant dentures is such that it makes it a highly comfortable and near-perfect replacement for the missing dental arch. Since the denture is fixed to stable posts (implants) in the jaw, it won’t jiggle, shift or move out of position while eating or talking. Unlike traditional removable dentures, they allow you to chew, eat and speak with utmost confidence without any worries of being dislocated or falling out.
- The aesthetic value of implant dentures is another prized benefit. Modern implants and dentures are manufactured with attractive high quality materials (such as Zirconia) with immaculate care and precision, keeping the patient’s aesthetic preferences on top priority. The shape, size, texture and alignment of the teeth can be customised as per the patient’s requirements to give them a radiant and beautiful smile.
Conclusion
Getting full mouth dental implants can be a wholly transformative experience for seniors and adults suffering from complete tooth loss. The premium durability, comfort, aesthetics, safety and functionality provided by implant dentures are exclusive to themselves and cannot be provided by any other restorative treatment.
If you need more information about any other aspect of full mouth dental implants, schedule a FREE consultation with NJ New Teeth Clinic, a premium dental practice located in New Jersey, USA. Discuss your queries with our expert implant surgeons and pave your way to a healthy and beautiful smile transformation!
