If You Are Edentulous Among Those Considering Implants at Age 65 or Older, First Check Whether You Need Full-Mouth Implants!

If You Are Edentulous Among Those Considering Implants at Age 65 or Older, First Check Whether You Need Full-Mouth Implants!

Hello,

This is Haru Implant Dental Clinic, helping you begin each day with a comfortable routine.

Among those looking into implants at age 65 or older, some wonder whether full-mouth implants are possible even when most of their teeth have been lost, or whether treatment may be difficult because of their age or underlying medical conditions.

Whether full-mouth implants, also called full-arch implants, are possible is not determined solely by age or the number of remaining teeth.

The possibility of preserving the remaining teeth, the condition of the jawbone, whether existing implants can be used, the medications being taken, and overall health must all be evaluated together. Depending on the diagnosis, the treatment plan may also change, such as by combining treatment with bone grafting or adjusting the scope of surgery.

In this post, based on an actual case involving implants for a patient aged 65 or older, we will look in order at situations in which full-mouth implants may be considered and the conditions that should also be checked when considering full-arch implants.

When Almost No Teeth Remain

Or When Existing Removable Dentures Are Uncomfortable

If it is difficult to eat using only the remaining teeth, or if removable dentures move around and gum pain keeps recurring, edentulous implants may be considered. This is because long-term denture use can change the shape of the gums, and discomfort may continue even after the dentures are adjusted.

In such cases, after checking the function of the remaining teeth and whether the dentures can be adjusted, full-mouth implant treatment to restore the dentition with fixed artificial teeth may be considered if the teeth are difficult to preserve or it is difficult to maintain function with dentures. Full-arch implants require an assessment of the overall chewing structure of both the upper and lower jaws, so the initial diagnosis is important.

When You Want Chewing Ability Similar to That of Natural Teeth

The greatest discomfort people experience when edentulous or using dentures ultimately involves chewing ability. If you cannot comfortably chew the foods you want to eat, the enjoyment of meals may decrease, and this may also affect nutritional intake.

Fixed implants offer a significant difference in feel compared with dentures. Unlike dentures, which are attached to and removed from the gums, implants are fixed into the bone, so chewing ability similar to that of natural teeth can be expected. If restoring chewing ability is important to you, it is necessary to determine whether fixed full-mouth implants are suitable among the available edentulous implant options.

When Teeth Cannot Properly Function Because of Periodontal Disease

The fact that teeth remain does not mean that all of them are healthy. In particular, teeth affected by long-standing periodontal disease may become loose because the jawbone has weakened, or may develop problems with chewing function. Even if teeth appear to remain, they may not actually be in a condition to provide sufficient chewing function.

In such cases, the condition of the affected teeth needs to be assessed accurately. If the few remaining teeth are loose or have problems with chewing function, it may be necessary to consider treatment to restore overall oral health, including full-arch implants.

When Pronunciation Becomes Inaccurate

Or When Facial Contours Have Changed

When missing teeth remain untreated for a long time, speech may become distorted or unclear. This is a problem frequently experienced by people who use dentures or are edentulous.

In addition, when all or most teeth have been missing for a long time, it is difficult to avoid changes in appearance. Teeth support the area around the mouth from the inside; when they are absent, the area around the lips may become sunken, making the face look different from before.

In such cases, reconstructing both gum volume and tooth alignment through edentulous implants may help restore a sunken appearance around the mouth to something closer to how it looked previously.

When You Want Long-Term Functional Restoration

Implant treatment reconstructs teeth while also restoring everyday functions such as eating and speaking.

That is why it is important to design treatment after calculating how stably the implants can be used over the long term.

Therefore, it is necessary to make a comprehensive assessment of where to place the implants, what height to set for the prostheses, and how to distribute chewing forces.

When providing consultations for implants for patients aged 65 and older, Haru Implant Dental Clinic establishes a plan covering the condition of the jawbone, implant placement locations, and the prosthetic design through digital diagnostics, including a 3D CT, 3D intraoral scanner, and 3D facial scanner. Since edentulous implant treatment does not end with surgery alone, we also place importance on the process continuing through the temporary teeth and final prostheses.

If you are considering implants at age 65 or older, first check which direction is needed for you among edentulous implants, full-arch implants, and full-mouth implants.

For implants, visit Haru Implant Dental Clinic at Gangnam Station.