Can I Get Dental Implants If I’ve Already Had Dentures for Ten Years?

I was hoping to get dental implants, but I’ve been wearing dentures for the last ten or so years. Have I waited too long to get dental implants? A friend told me that the longer you wear dentures the less chance you have of getting dental implants.

Chris

Dear Chris,

I’m glad you wrote. While the longer you are in complete dentures, the more bone structure you lose, there is a procedure that can help you with that. On the matter of the ten years you’ve been in dentures, that is long enough for you to have lost a significant amount of bone structure. This is a good time for you to take action. In a few more years, you’ll have lost enough bone to be dealing with facial collapse. This essentially means that you will not have enough bone structure left to even keep your dentures  in your mouth.

What you’ll need to do first is have bone grafting done. Once that happens, you’ll need some time to heal. Then, you’ll be able to get the dental implants. The first thing you will notice is a much higher quality of life. Your chewing capacity will significantly increase, and you’ll no longer have any slipping and sliding of your dentures.

Those are fantastic benefits, but the best news is that you will not have to worry about facial collapse in the future. Your implants serve as prosthetic tooth roots, as a result, your body assumes you need the bone structure and leaves those minerals in place.

This blog is brought to you by Nashville Cosmetic Dentist Dr. David Wickness.
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