Anxiety and Reality Regarding Implants

When people hear “implant,” the first thing that often comes to mind is anxiety and fear associated with surgery.

This tendency is particularly strong among the elderly, and we often sense that not only the patient but also their family members are concerned.

Certainly, as we age, systemic diseases and physical issues increase, and unnecessary surgery should be avoided.

However, in today’s era of 100-year lifespans, we also face the challenge of “the difficulties of dentures that come with longevity.”

The Challenge of Dentures and Longevity

For example, consider someone who got dentures at age 60 and lives well past 90.

The jawbone thins and shrinks with age, causing the dentures to gradually lose stability.

As a result,

• Dentures shift, making eating difficult
• pain makes them unusable
• and conversation becomes difficult. These problems increase, significantly lowering quality of life (QOL).

This directly connects to a critical issue that often manifests during the period where the “gap between average life expectancy and healthy life expectancy” becomes apparent.

The Option of Implant Dentures

Of course, adjusting dentures or creating new ones is the primary approach.

However, for difficult cases or situations where a significant improvement in quality of life is desired, “implant dentures” become an effective option.

Implant-supported dentures involve placing a small number of implants (typically 2 to 4) to anchor and stabilize the denture.

The key feature is that implants are used “supplementally to support the denture,” not to replace “every single tooth.”

• Advantages
  • Requires fewer implants, resulting in less surgical burden
  • Denture movement is reduced, making eating and conversation more comfortable
  • Improved chewing force compared to conventional full dentures
• Disadvantages
  • Requires surgical intervention (though often minimally invasive)
  • Costs are out-of-pocket

Actual Case: My 90-Year-Old Grandmother

My own grandmother, after turning 90, underwent treatment where two thin implants were placed in her lower jaw to stabilize her dentures.

As a result, the size and stability of her dentures significantly improved, enhancing her quality of life.

Since the treatment was completed just before she entered a care facility, she has since lived comfortably without major issues.

This experience reinforced my belief that choosing the right approach can yield significant benefits, rather than dismissing options as “impossible due to age.”

Our Clinic’s Structure

Since opening, our clinic has been designed to accommodate wheelchair users, enabling us to treat patients even after they enter a care facility.

We fully understand the concerns elderly patients and their families may have, such as “Will surgery be okay?”

That’s precisely why we propose a treatment plan tailored to the patient’s overall health and living situation, ensuring it is manageable.

Summary

• Dentures become increasingly unstable with age
• Implant-supported dentures stabilize dentures using a small number of implants
• Surgery burden is low, with significant potential to improve quality of life
• We have actual cases where patients over 90 years old were suitable candidates

As we enter an era of 100-year lifespans, preserving the ability to “eat, speak, and smile” is the very essence of quality of life.

We believe implant-supported dentures are one effective treatment option addressing this challenge.