A Teenager's Guide to Braces

Dental implants are a fantastic addition to the arsenal of any dentist and have been used to improve the lifestyles of countless Americans. However, there is a misconception that dental implants or prosthetics of any kind are primarily for older people, whose mouths have been affected by years of problems and infections. That is simply not the case, and often dental issues in younger American's are not preventable, but they are fixable. Sometimes it is just bad genetics, other times it is an unfortunate accident, but whatever the case may be, here are a few reasons why implants often work better on younger patients. 

Quick To Accept

As you get older your body becomes more susceptible to infection and issues of the like. It is harder and harder to successfully transplant something into the body because of this increased risk. If the body rejects the implant, for whatever reason, then there is little a dentist can do other than remove it. However, in younger patients, this risk is much less. Often implants will be fully healed over in a couple of weeks, although it can take over a month. The real benefit for younger patients is that the risk of rejection is much lower.

Longer Usage

Dental implants are not like other prosthetics like dentures because they are screwed directly and permanently into your jaw. Yes, you read that right, dental implants are meant to last a lifetime, which obviously poses more of a benefit for younger patients who will need them for longer. While the crowns on top of the dental implants may need changing, the actual implant itself is part of your body for the foreseeable future and will feel just like any other tooth, which is why so many people like them more than other, easily removable prosthetics.

Fewer Risk Factors

Apart from dental implants being rejected by the body, there are a whole host of other reasons why older patients sometimes don't qualify for them. If they have high blood pressure or underlying health conditions the dentist simply will not take the risk. On younger patients, with stronger immune systems, healthier blood pressure, and overall better health, the chance of your dentist rejecting you for a dental implant are extraordinarily low. The number one priority for a dentist is always going to be your safety, and as a younger patient, you are far better equipped to easily get through a quite intense dental procedure. 

For more information on implants, contact a dentist near you.