"Is it still worth it at my age?" It's the question we hear most from patients over 65, and from their adult children. The short answer: age alone doesn't rule out dental implants. What matters is your overall health, the bone you have and how you'll care for them. Here's what the research says, with no promises and in plain language.
Yes. A systematic review of implant studies in patients aged 65 and older (Srinivasan et al., 2017) found that about 97.7% of implants were still in place after one year, 96.2% after five years and 91.2% after ten years. Those results are similar to those in younger patients.
What does change with age is the context: more medications, more chronic conditions and sometimes less bone. That's why the evaluation before treatment matters so much.
Diabetes doesn't rule out implants. A review by Chrcanovic et al. (2014) found no significant difference in implant failure between people with and without diabetes. Poorly controlled diabetes does slow healing, though, so we assess each case individually and coordinate with your physician when needed.
Many older women take oral bisphosphonates (such as alendronate) for bone health. The risk of a complication called osteonecrosis of the jaw with these oral medications is very low: the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS, 2022) puts it at about 0.05% or less. It's different with high-dose injected medications, for example for cancer, which call for a more careful assessment. Never stop a medication on your own: we'll talk it through with your doctor.
Smoking does matter: studies link it to more implant failures and slower healing. Quitting, even just around treatment, helps a lot.
In the U.S., about 15% of adults 65 and older have no natural teeth left (CDC, 2017-2020). If that's you and your lower denture moves, there's a simple, well-studied solution: two implants that hold the denture in place with snaps. The McGill Consensus (2002) proposed it as the first-choice treatment for a toothless lower jaw. It makes eating and speaking much more stable, with smaller surgery than a fixed full arch.
If you'd rather have fixed teeth you don't take out, there's the full arch on four implants (All-on-4). In the review by Patzelt et al. (2014), about 99% of implants were still working at three years. It's a bigger treatment that needs more planning.
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) doesn't cover implants or routine dentures. Some Medicare Advantage plans with a dental benefit pay part of the cost; others don't. It depends on your plan, and we check it for free before giving you a quote.
The day-to-day of your treatment (your first visit, crowns or dentures on implants, adjustments and checkups) is handled by the clinic's dentist. More complex surgeries, such as bone grafts or full-arch cases, are planned with a 3D scan and performed by our clinical director, Dr. Yoan Suárez Zayas, DMD.
Before we start, you get the plan, the dates and the price in writing. And if you'd like to come with your son or daughter, even better: that way everyone hears the same thing.
PureSmile Miami opens November 1, 2026 in Kendall. Join our waitlist and we'll call you, in English or Spanish.
There's no age limit. What matters is your overall health, your bone and being able to care for them.
A single implant is placed under local anesthesia, and most people are back to their routine within a few days. Larger treatments are planned with more time and, when needed, over several visits.
Often they don't need to be stopped, but that decision is made together with your doctor. Never stop them on your own.
Usually three to six months from placement and healing to the final crown or prosthesis. It can take longer if a bone graft is needed.
General information; not a substitute for an in-person evaluation. Sources: Srinivasan M. et al., Clinical Oral Implants Research, 2017; Chrcanovic B.R. et al., Journal of Dental Research, 2014; AAOMS Position Paper on Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw, 2022; McGill Consensus Statement on Overdentures, 2002; Patzelt S.B.M. et al., Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research, 2014; CDC, NHANES 2017-2020; Medicare.gov.
