Why Dental Implants Near Balsan Station Are Not Determined by Age

Hello, this is Lee Soo-kyung, a specialist in Integrated Dentistry at a dental clinic near Balsan Station.

"You may have a hard time getting implants because of your age."

. . .

Have you ever heard something like this?

Many people give up or even hesitate to seek a consultation because of their age.

But is age really the 기준?

According to the Korea National Statistical Office’s "2024 Statistics on Older Adults,"

people aged 65 and older in Korea make up 19.2% of the total population,

and by 2025, entry into a super-aged society (20% or more) is expected to be certain.

As a result, demand for implants among older patients is also increasing, but information that clearly explains "whether it is possible at my age" is still lacking.

To conclude,

age itself is not an absolute 기준. What matters is overall health and oral conditions.

Dental information near Balsan Station

1. Overall health comes before age.

What older patients worry about most is "Will my body be able to handle it?"

In fact, more than age, conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and reduced immunity

have a more direct impact on the prognosis of implants.

However, having a chronic disease does not mean it is impossible.

If diabetes is well controlled below a certain level, implant placement itself is possible,

and if hypertension is also managed with medication, it is generally carried out in cooperation with internal medicine. One especially important point is the class of bisphosphonate medications used to treat osteoporosis.

These medications help maintain bone density by inhibiting bone resorption, but long-term use can increase the risk of a complication called MRONJ (medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw).

This is exactly why a careful review of your medication history before treatment is necessary.

Making sure to inform the clinic of all medications you are taking before surgery is the first step toward safe treatment.

Dental information near Balsan Station

2. The older you are, the more important it is to check bone condition first.

As people age, bone density gradually decreases.

The same is true in the mouth.

If an area where a tooth was lost is left untreated, the alveolar bone is gradually resorbed, and the older the patient, the faster this process tends to progress and the slower recovery tends to be.

Because implants are placed by inserting an artificial root into the bone, adequate bone volume and bone quality must support the procedure.

If there is insufficient bone volume, bone grafting is performed first.

If the area is a maxillary molar region in the upper jaw, a sinus lift (Sinus Lift) may also be necessary.

If these additional procedures are needed, the overall treatment period becomes longer and recovery also takes more time,

so the treatment direction is determined after accurately assessing the bone condition through CT imaging.

Rather than simply concluding based on age, checking the current bone condition first is the starting point for an accurate decision.

Dental information near Balsan Station

3. Maintenance after placement determines the prognosis.

For implants, maintenance is more important than placement.

In older patients, implant area care can easily become weak for various reasons,

and a representative cause is medication-induced dry mouth (xerostomia).

Various medications such as those for high blood pressure, diabetes, and sleep aids can suppress saliva secretion, and when saliva decreases, oral bacteria can more easily settle,

which can lead to peri-implantitis.

Peri-implantitis progresses quickly, and once the bone is damaged, recovery is difficult.

If hand function has declined, toothbrushing may not be sufficient,

so it is worth actively considering the use of electric toothbrushes or interdental cleaning tools.

This is why regular checkups and scaling after implant placement are even more important.

It is difficult to judge implants solely by the fact that someone is old.

That is because the three factors of overall health, medications taken, and bone condition work together in combination.

In daily life, reducing dry mouth through adequate water intake,

and making a habit of thorough oral cleaning after meals become the foundation of long-term oral health.

If you already have implants, not missing regular checkups at least once every six months is the most important care principle.

This has been Lee Soo-kyung from a dental clinic near Balsan Station. Thank you.