An average of one in four adults lose all of their teeth by the age of 74, according to an American dental study. Complete or partial tooth loss can arise through gum disease, accidents, broken or decayed teeth as well as failed root canal treatments.

While it was traditional to replace missing teeth with fixed bridgework and dentures in the past, these days there has been a sharp increase in the amount of dental implants being chosen as an alternative. The reasons for choosing implants over dentures are quite obvious. Dental implants look and feel more natural than their alternatives, so for anyone who is conscious about their looks, implants give a more aesthetic result.

However, replacing missing teeth is more than just cosmetic. Once you have lost a tooth for whatever reason, the supporting alveolar bone within the jaw will begin to deteriorate. This means that as the bone disintegrates it can seriously impact on the structure of your face. This can lead to problems with your jaw and the supporting muscles, as well as the pressure placed on your remaining teeth.

Your jaw alignment can become affected because your remaining teeth may have a tendency to move around or become loose. This can affect chewing and swallowing as well as cause some pain or discomfort to the soft tissues around your jaws and cheeks. This is why it is best to have any missing teeth replaced with a suitable alternative as soon as possible.

Pros of dental implants over 50

A dental implant is far more secure than a denture alternative. The implant is made up of a titanium screw that is inserted into your jaw bone where the missing tooth once was. The metal screw is then allowed to sit for a few weeks so that the gums and jaw bone can heal around it. This helps to stabilize the implant further. Your dentist will fit a temporary crown while this is happening. After the screw has fused with the jawbone, your dentist will then replace the temporary crown with a permanent replacement tooth.

The good thing about implants when compared to bridges is that they don’t need their neighbouring teeth for support. The permanent structure of an implant means that your existing teeth are kept stable in the jaw and are protected from damage. Unlike dentures, implants prevent bone loss because they replace the whole tooth and its root.

Because implants look, feel and work just like real teeth, there is no worry about chewing difficulties, food becoming trapped under a plate or clicking noise when eating, such as is experienced often with dentures.

Cons of dental implants over 50

There is always a downside to having any medical procedure, so although dental implants are considered safe, there may be a slight risk of complications. These could include: bleeding; infection; and nerve, sinus or nasal cavity injuries. Although if you are in good general health and don’t suffer from any major illness or disease, then the risks are extremely low.

The main downside of having implants is the fact that they are not considered to be a quick-fix solution. Because it takes a few steps over a number of weeks to complete, you can expect to wait for anything up to six months from having your first treatment to actually having your finished implant fitted. This is because your implant must fuse with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. You will have a temporary crown in place while you wait.

Despite waiting time for the treatments, dental implants are safe and reliable solutions for tooth loss for older adults. Worldwide success rates are over 90% and most people will be completely unaware that you have them.