There are a few dangers of waiting too long to get dental implants if you have missing or failing teeth. We’ll answer in detail “when is it too late to get dental implants?” in this article but in many instances it requires a CT scan to determine if you truly are or are not a candidate for dental implants.
Find out if you may be eligible for dental implants by taking this 60-second quiz:
When is It Too Late to Get Dental Implants?
Here are some of the most common disqualifiers for those wanting to get dental implants as well as some potential solutions.
Too Much Bone Loss
It may be too late to get dental implants if you’ve experienced too much bone loss. Bone loss in teeth can occur from the following:
- Missing teeth: If you have missing teeth, your jawbone loses some of its structure and can even change shape. This is why it’s important not to wait too long with missing teeth before getting a permanent solution like dental implants.
- Wearing dentures for extended periods of time: Missing teeth allow the jawbone to shrink and lose its volume. Dentures are a temporary solution to missing teeth that may solve some problems but create bigger ones, like contributing to bone loss.
- Periodontal disease: Also known as gum disease, damages soft tissue in the mouth and can also destroy bone causing teeth to fall out. Dental implants are one solution to periodontal disease before it gets too bad.
Fortunately, if you’ve experienced bone loss, it may not be too late to get dental implants. You may still have a chance to qualify for more advanced procedures such as zygomatic dental implants or a sinus lift.
Zygomatic dental implants are longer implants that are placed into the cheekbone rather than the jaw but are only available for the top set of teeth.
This is a more advanced procedure that not all providers are trained to do. Nuvia surgeons are highly experienced and have the skill to place zygomatic dental implants for those who don’t have adequate bone in their jaw.
A sinus lift is a procedure used to build up bone in the sinus cavities where bone loss is common. More on the sinus lift here.
Chronic Illness
If you’ve heard that age can be a disqualifier for dental implants, this likely isn’t the case.
However, age can be associated with weaker bone or chronic illness that could make it too late for dental implants.
Chronic illness significantly impacts the body’s ability to heal from a procedure like dental implants. For example, those with uncontrolled diabetes, or those currently undergoing cancer treatments may not be eligible for dental implants.
Extreme Gum Disease
If gum disease gets bad enough, it can damage the jawbone and potentially disqualify someone from getting dental implants.
If you struggle with gum disease, don’t wait to get a consultation. Putting off treatment or dental implants could jeopardize your ability to restore your smile in the future.
If you’re wondering “when is it too late to get dental implants” and have gum disease, it is worth meeting with a dental professional to assess the health of your bone.
Why It’s Important to Get a Consultation
It can be nearly impossible to know if you have bone loss or gum disease to the extent that would disqualify you from dental implants without getting a consultation.
Thanks to advanced techniques and the highly experienced teams at Nuvia, some patients who have worn dentures for many years have still been able to get dental implants.
This is why it’s so important to get a consultation first.
If you think there’s a chance you may not be a candidate, you may be surprised. Don’t lose hope in the possibility of a restored smile and oral health - start by taking the 60-second quiz to see if you may be a candidate.
Additionally, getting a consultation is how you can find out exactly how much dental implants will cost given your individual situation.
Dental implants do require surgery to place the implants in the jawbone, making the initial costs higher than temporary solutions like dentures. Dentures come with costs of their own, like the changing of your jawbone and costs for replacements and repairs.
There are several factors that can impact the cost of dental implants. To get an idea of how much they might cost you and what payment plan options are available, download the dental implant cost guide below.
Download the Cost Guide Here
