Whether or not dental implants would be “ better” than dentures for your 70 year old relative depends on various factors.
It is true that no one likes to go for surgery, no matter at what age, and for dental implants to be even considered for your father, it must be determined that the benefits of the surgery far outweigh any risks. Generally speaking, dental implants are far superior to dentures in terms of strength, longevity, stability, comfort and even aesthetics.
Age alone cannot be seen as the most important limiting factor in getting dental implants.
Dental implants would be a good option to consider If your father is :
- Medically healthy and cleared by his medical doctors to undergo dental implant surgery.
- Not adverse to surgery
- Has overall good dental and gum health
- Has had a history of significant dislike for dentures with inability to chew well with them
- Motivated to commit to see the dentist regularly to maintain and clean the dental implants
- Able to accept any risks involved in the planned surgery
- Adverse to trimming down his natural teeth to fit a dental bridge.
In my practice, we routinely perform dental implant surgery for patients who are well above the age of 70 with no significant problems, provided the above factors are met.
Older patients take longer to heal so I would make an effort to be all the more careful to make sure that the benefits that they get for going through the dental implant surgery is well worth any risks or inconveniences to the patient and family members.
