If you’re seeking a long-lasting and reliable solution for tooth loss, you might be a good candidate for dental implants. Many experts consider these the ideal way to rebuild smiles because of their unique advantages. Unlike alternatives, like dentures and bridges, they’re placed directly in your jaw to function more like natural teeth.
But if you’re going through menopause, or already have, your dentist might need to take extra precautions or provide additional services for you to undergo the implant procedure successfully. Continue reading to learn more about it!
How Do Dental Implants Work?
These realistic restorations are the only ones that involve surgically placing a post made out of a biocompatible material, such as titanium or zirconia, directly into your jaw. It can take 3 to 6 months to recover from oral surgery because that’s often how long it takes your mouth to generate enough new bone in a process called osseointegration, which eventually completely envelops the pole to make it a more permanent part of your mouth.
One of these rods can be placed to anchor a dental crown to restore a single missing tooth, or several can be carefully arranged to hold a specially designed dental bridge or set of dentures to close wider spaces in your smile or rebuild entire arches.
How Does Menopause Affect My Oral Health?
Did you know that your hormones play an important role when it comes to your oral health? For instance, estrogen helps maintain a healthy balance between bone formation and bone loss, and supports your collagen to help strengthen your connective tissues. Meanwhile, progesterone can increase blood flow to your mouth, which can increase gum sensitivity or puffiness.
Menopause causes your hormone balances to fluctuate, resulting in issues like dry mouth, which encourages unhealthy bacteria to thrive and contribute to more serious concerns, such as progressive gum disease, increased sensitivity, and jawbone density loss.
Can I Get Dental Implants After Menopause?
Thankfully, candidacy for dental implants is assessed on a case-by-case basis, and though menopause can affect your candidacy, it doesn’t always prevent patients from pursuing this treatment.
For instance, the leading causes of failure are peri-implantitis, a pervasive form of periodontal disease that can erode the materials anchoring your new tooth in place, and failed osseointegration. The hormonal shifts caused by menopause can significantly increase the risk of developing both conditions, but your dentist can recommend additional services, such as a bone graft, to help bulk up your jaw enough to proceed with your desired procedure.
If you’re post-menopausal and are unsure whether you’re a good candidate for dental implants, you can find out by scheduling a consultation with your provider!
About the Practice
At Klein Family Dentistry, people of all ages benefit from two compassionate dentists who are eager to help them build and maintain happy, healthy smiles. Dr. Klein and Dr. Miller share decades of combined experience, and today, they collaborate to offer a complete menu of services to meet your family’s unique needs under one roof. They use state-of-the-art technology to place and restore dental implants in the office for a more comfortable and streamlined experience. You can request an appointment on the website or call (717) 652-6644.