Is It Possible to Get Dental Implants After Menopause?

Menopause is a natural part of getting older, and it leads to all sorts of hormonal changes. Tooth loss, on the other hand, is not inevitable as you age. If you’ve been without one or more of your teeth for some time, you might have looked into replacing them with dental implants. However, dental implants require oral surgery and a lengthy healing process. Because of this, you may be wondering whether it’s possible for postmenopausal women to get dental implants. Read on to learn the answer!

Menopause & Dental Implant Candidacy

Although menopause doesn’t automatically disqualify someone from receiving dental implants, the bodily changes that occur can impact your eligibility for the treatment. Some of these changes include:

• Jawbone density – A person’s estrogen levels decrease during and after menopause. Since estrogen plays an important role in bone health, postmenopausal women may have a higher risk for osteoporosis, which makes the bones weaker and more prone to fracture. Osteoporosis may also impact the jawbone, rendering it unable to support dental implants.
• Dry mouth – Another common issue with menopause is dry mouth. When the mouth doesn’t produce enough saliva to wash food debris and harmful bacteria away from the teeth, the risk of gum disease increases. If gum disease progresses to a certain point, it can damage the jawbone and gums. This may cause dental implant failure several months or even years down the line.

Can Postmenopausal Women Get Dental Implants?

Several studies have shown that the risk of dental implant failure is much higher among women who have gone through menopause compared to premenopausal women. With that being said, menopause doesn’t necessarily prevent you from being a good dental implant candidate. You may simply need to take a few additional precautions.

For example, you’ll need to consult with your primary care physician about the possibility of dental implant surgery. They may recommend hormone replacement therapy to replenish your estrogen levels, which can keep your jawbone strong enough to support your new teeth. You should also try to quit smoking if you currently do, as tobacco can double or triple the risk that dental implants will fail.

Dental implants are by far the closest thing to having your natural teeth back after they’ve been lost. If you’re going through menopause, or you’ve already done so, don’t be afraid to reach out to your dentist and find out if dental implants are right for you. You deserve to have a complete, confident smile no matter your age!

About the Practice

Our team at Sunrise Dental Center has been helping patients in the greater Houston area enjoy comfortable, affordable dental care since 1986. With a skilled team of four dentists on staff, we can provide a wide variety of treatments, including start-to-finish dental implant care. We utilize the latest technology in the field of dental implants to make the process as safe, efficient, and seamless as possible. If you’re interested in getting dental implants after menopause, please contact us via our website or by phone at (713) 869-9973.