Considerations for Dental Implants for Patients 65 and Over > Dentistry

Dental implant plans for patients aged 65 and over should be tailored to each individual, taking various factors into consideration.

"1" Why Preserving Teeth is Important as You Age

"2" Utilizing Health Insurance Benefits

"3" Considerations for Patients with Systemic Diseases

"4" Why Dental Implants at 65 Can Be a Challenging Process

Hello. While consistent oral hygiene is crucial, dental health can decline rapidly after middle age, necessitating even more diligent care. In particular, age-related factors such as decreased saliva production, gum and periodontal diseases, tooth wear, and systemic illnesses can increase the risk of tooth loss, requiring special attention.

However, if teeth have already been lost, appropriate restorative care is necessary. Recently, many people prefer dental implants for those 65 and over, as they can restore functionality very similar to natural teeth.

"1" Why Preserving Teeth is Important as You Age

Dental health becomes increasingly important with age. Neglecting tooth loss can hinder proper chewing, placing a burden on the digestive system and potentially leading to insufficient nutrient absorption.

This can negatively impact overall health. Reduced chewing ability can also lead to psychological issues such as lethargy or depression.

Notably, elderly individuals who leave lost teeth unreplaced have a relatively higher risk of developing dementia. While tooth loss itself isn't a direct cause of dementia, impaired chewing ability can diminish cognitive functions like learning and memory.

Therefore, restoring tooth function through alternatives like dental implants for those 65 and over can aid in dementia prevention.

Considering this is beneficial. Implants involve placing artificial tooth roots directly into the jawbone for firm fixation, potentially restoring superior chewing power.

Even with multiple missing teeth, full-arch implants can be considered. This doesn't necessarily mean implanting a root for every missing tooth; instead, a few implants are placed, and a bridge-like prosthesis connects them.

"2" Utilizing Health Insurance Benefits

Even with 8-10 or more missing teeth out of 28, full-arch implants can restore chewing power very similar to natural teeth. People considering dental implants for those 65 and over due to multiple missing teeth may worry about the significant cost.

Since even a single implant is relatively expensive compared to other prosthetic treatments, this concern is understandable. However, individuals aged 65 and over can utilize health insurance benefits.

Health insurance subscribers or dependents aged 65 and over can receive implants for up to two teeth during their lifetime, regardless of the implant location, with a 30% co-payment.

While this doesn't apply to cases requiring full dentures or additional procedures like bone grafting, it can significantly reduce the financial burden of implants in other situations. With health insurance, the cost per implant can range from approximately ₩380,000 to ₩400,000.

Therefore, if you meet these conditions, consider consulting with your dentist to explore implant options.

"3" Considerations for Patients with Systemic Diseases

Many patients requiring dental implants for those 65 and over have underlying systemic conditions like diabetes or hypertension. In such cases, standard implant procedures may be challenging.

Patients themselves may have vague fears about implant procedures. These conditions can impair white blood cell function, increasing the risk of recurrent periodontal disease, shock, and susceptibility to bacterial infections.

There's also a risk of excessive bleeding, and patients may experience stress and fatigue more easily, making long procedures difficult. Slower recovery after implant placement can increase the risk of secondary infections.

Consequently, many are hesitant to proceed. However, advancements in medical technology, such as guided implant surgery, can offer relatively positive prognoses.

Rather than giving up, it's advisable to disclose any systemic conditions or medications to your dentist beforehand to create an appropriate implant surgery plan.

"4" Why Dental Implants at 65 Can Be a Challenging Process

While implant placement is generally a complex dental procedure, it can be even more challenging for those 65 and over.

This is because it requires carefully assessing not only the oral condition but also age, systemic health, overall physical condition, and medications, and then developing a tailored surgical plan for each patient.

Especially when multiple implants are needed, advanced techniques may be required. Therefore, it's best to avoid hasty decisions and carefully consider your options after a thorough examination and consultation. It is recommended to consult with experienced and skilled medical staff equipped with advanced diagnostic equipment for detailed diagnosis.

Since the surgeon needs to understand the patient's condition through thorough consultation, entrusting the consultation, prosthesis, and management to the same medical staff can lead to more stable results.

Source :https://blog.naver.com/snjht21/224022375464

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