Is It Ever Too Late to Get Dental Implants?

If you’ve never replaced a past missing tooth or you’ve been wearing removable dentures for several years, you may be wondering if getting dental implants is still an option. While the complexity of the case is unique to each patient, the answer is almost always yes. As long as there is enough bone remaining to insert a dental implant, it is never too late to reap the benefits of this remarkable restorative solution.

This begs the question – what if I don’t have enough bone left to hold a dental implant. This is a common scenario for patients who have waited an extended amount of time before deciding to get dental implants. When the underlying bone is not stimulated by a tooth root (either the tooth is missing or a removable denture is used), the bone begins to deteriorate and lose density over time because it no longer has a job to do. The bone may collapse inward as it heals and slowly shrink day by day.

Since we know that a dental implant has a titanium post that must be surrounded by healthy bone, what can bridge the gap for patients who want dental implants yet do not have enough existing bone structure to support it? Bone grafting comes to the rescue. It is the procedure of choice to help patients who are “late to the game” receive healthy and successful dental implants.

Bone Grafting Gives Hope

According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), bone grafting for dental implants should be used when the jaw bone is too thin or soft to keep the implant in place in its current state. During a bone graft, a section of your bone can be taken from another area of the body, but most patients receive a special grafting material that will create new, strong bone to stabilize a dental implant. You’ll be given just enough bone to support an implant, no more and no less. This amount is carefully calculated by your dentist using advanced imaging technology. If the graft is only minor, you may be able to complete the procedure in the same day as your implant surgery!

Think you’ve missed the boat on getting dental implants? Think again. Call 1899 Dental Implants today. Not only do we offer the most innovative and preferred solutions in implants dentistry, but we deliver them at the most affordable rate. Despite your age or how long you’ve had missing teeth, we want to create the beautiful and confident smile you deserve now.