Getting false teeth helps restore teeth and ensures chewing function for seniors. Dental professionals recommend choosing a suitable method: Dental Implants, Porcelain Bridges, or Removable Dentures. The cost of false teeth ranges from 300,000 – 35,000,000 VND/tooth depending on the condition and the chosen method.
Why shouldn’t seniors leave empty tooth spaces for too long?
In older adults, the natural aging process weakens oral health, leading to various periodontal diseases such as gum inflammation and bone loss, making teeth prone to loosening, sensitivity, and loss. However, leaving empty tooth spaces after tooth loss poses many serious risks to overall health.
Once teeth no longer perform their chewing function, undigested food goes straight to the stomach, reducing nutrient absorption. In the long run, older adults are at a higher risk of systemic diseases such as digestive disorders, cardiovascular problems, and high blood pressure, leading to a decline in physical health and mental fatigue.
Not only that, long-term tooth loss leads to jawbone resorption – a consequence that can deform the face, cause sunken cheeks, and sagging skin, making older adults look older than their actual age and lose confidence in communication. At the same time, the remaining teeth will easily shift, affecting the structure of the entire dentition.
Furthermore, tooth loss also reduces speech quality, causing lisping and difficulty being understood – a major obstacle in daily life.
Therefore, to maintain overall health, facial aesthetics, and quality of life, older adults should absolutely not leave empty tooth spaces for too long. Instead, they should promptly choose a suitable dental restoration solution to preserve the jawbone, restore chewing function, and comprehensively improve oral health.
Popular Dental Prosthetic Methods Today
Getting false teeth not only provides an aesthetic smile but also helps restore chewing ability like natural teeth. Currently, the three most commonly applied solutions are: Dental Implants, Fixed Porcelain Bridges, and Removable Dentures. Below is a detailed analysis of each method from a dental professional’s perspective.
Dental Implants
Dental implant placement is the most advanced technique today, highly rated for both aesthetics and durability. The dentist will embed an Implant post into the jawbone, then attach an Abutment and a porcelain crown on top, completely mimicking the structure of a real tooth.
After a few months, the jawbone will integrate firmly with the Implant post, creating absolute stability and preventing displacement or detachment during eating or speaking.
Outstanding Advantages:
- No need to grind adjacent teeth as in traditional methods
- Restores chewing ability and full sensation of food taste
- Biocompatible and absolutely safe implant post material
- Reduces the risk of jawbone resorption, gum inflammation, tooth decay, bad breath, and tooth misalignment
- Suitable for most cases of tooth loss
- Tooth lifespan of up to 20 years or longer with good care
Disadvantages to note:
- Higher cost than other methods
- Longer treatment time due to the need for bone integration
Fixed Porcelain Bridges
A fixed porcelain bridge is a method of dental restoration that uses two adjacent teeth as abutments, then covers them with a connected series of porcelain crowns to fill the gap of missing teeth.
Although it does not invade the jawbone like implants, a dental bridge still provides good chewing efficiency and high aesthetics.
Advantages:
- Significant aesthetic improvement
- Restores chewing ability better than removable dentures
- Friendly porcelain material, compatible with body tissues
Limitations:
- Requires grinding down healthy teeth to act as abutments, affecting healthy teeth
- Prone to causing periodontal inflammation, tooth decay, and potentially gum recession in the long term
- Does not prevent jawbone resorption
- Not applicable for cases of complete arch tooth loss
- Risk of bad breath, reduced confidence
- Tooth lifespan is about 7–10 years with good care
Removable Dentures
Removable dentures consist of a base made of plastic or metal, which can be easily attached or removed. They are often used in cases of complete tooth loss, especially in older adults.
There are two main types: partial and complete removable dentures, depending on the number of teeth lost.
Advantages:
- Easy to attach and remove, convenient for cleaning
- Painless
- Lowest cost among all methods
- Ensures basic chewing function
- Safe base and artificial tooth materials for the body
Disadvantages:
- Weak chewing force, difficult to chew hard, tough food
- Prone to discomfort and looseness because they are held only by metal clasps
- Long-term use can cause gum atrophy, gum inflammation, affecting surrounding teeth
- Does not prevent jawbone resorption
- Increased risk of bad breath if hygiene is poor
- Inconvenient as they must be removed after each meal and before sleeping
- Average lifespan of 3–5 years
Frequently Asked Questions About False Teeth for Seniors
How much do false teeth cost for seniors?
The cost of dental restoration for older adults depends on the chosen restoration method:
- Removable dentures: Prices range from 300,000 – 1,000,000 VND/tooth; this is a traditional, low-cost, and easy-to-use method.
- Porcelain bridges: Prices are approximately 1,000,000 – 14,000,000 VND/tooth, depending on the type of porcelain crown, such as metal-porcelain or all-ceramic.
- Dental implants: This is the most advanced and modern solution, with costs ranging from 13,000,000 – 35,000,000 VND/tooth, depending on the implant brand, origin of the implant post, type of Abutment connector, as well as the actual condition of tooth loss.
Specific costs will be thoroughly advised at the dental clinic after a general examination.
Can seniors get dental implants?
Seniors can absolutely get dental implants, provided they have good oral health, do not suffer from serious chronic diseases, and their jawbone meets the requirements for thickness and height to place the implant post.
However, due to jawbone resorption and slower healing in older adults, dentists often opt for fewer implant posts and then create an implant-supported porcelain bridge to ensure safety and minimize procedures such as bone grafting or sinus lifts.
This is an optimal restoration solution that helps improve chewing ability, enhance dental aesthetics, and increase the quality of life for older adults.
Are dental implants dangerous for seniors?
If thoroughly examined and performed at a reputable dental clinic, dental implant placement for seniors aged 50 to 70 is safe and carries few complications. This is especially true when the patient has good jawbone density and does not suffer from severe cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or blood clotting disorders.
With modern technology, supported by simulation software and experienced dentists, the implant placement process will be optimally controlled. This is a long-lasting, durable restoration option that helps restore chewing function, prevent bone loss, and improve the quality of life for older adults.
