Many patients come to Milim Dental in Bursa, Turkey with the same worries:

“My age is advanced – am I too old for implants?”

“I have gum recession and bone loss; how will an implant hold?”

“I have high blood pressure (hypertension); is surgery safe for me?”

“I have diabetes; will the implant fail?”

“What about my mother or father – can they have implants at their age?”

These are very normal and very important questions.

The short answer is:

In many cases, yes, you and your parents can still have implants,

but only after careful planning, medical assessment and a personalised treatment strategy.

This article will explain, in clear language and step by step, how the team at Milim Dental Bursa, led by Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon Dr Ali Direnç Ulaşan, evaluates older patients with bone loss, hypertension and diabetes for dental implant treatment.

1. Age Alone Is Not a Contraindication for Implants

One of the biggest myths in dentistry is:

“I’m too old for implants.”

In reality:

There is no fixed upper age limit for dental implants.

A healthy 75-year-old can often be a better candidate than a poorly controlled 50-year-old.

What matters most is your overall health, not the number on your ID card.

In older patients, we pay special attention to:

Heart and blood pressure status

Diabetes and blood sugar control

Bone quality and quantity

Medications (especially blood thinners and osteoporosis drugs)

General mobility and ability to maintain oral hygiene

At Milim Dental in Bursa, we regularly treat patients in their 60s, 70s and even 80s with implants, including full-mouth rehabilitation when appropriate.

2. Bone Loss and Gum Recession: “If My Own Teeth Fell Out, How Will Implants Stay?”

Many older patients with gum disease or long-term missing teeth have:

Bone loss around teeth

Gum recession

Loose or drifting teeth

It is logical to ask:

“If my bone is melting and my own tooth couldn’t stay, how will a metal screw (implant) hold?”

Here is the key point:

Natural teeth are held by a root + ligament + bone.

An implant is held by direct bone connection (osseointegration), without a ligament.

If we can create or preserve enough healthy, stable bone, an implant can integrate very strongly – often more rigidly than the original tooth.

At Milim Dental Bursa, we use:

CBCT (3D scans) to measure existing bone

Digital planning to choose implant size, angulation and position

Bone augmentation techniques (bone grafts, sinus lifts, guided bone regeneration) when needed

So even if you or your parents have bone loss, implants may still be possible with:

Correct diagnosis

Possible bone regeneration

Careful surgical technique

3. High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) and Dental Implants

Hypertension is extremely common in older patients. The question is:

“If I have high blood pressure, is implant surgery dangerous?”

The important distinction is between:

Well-controlled hypertension (with medication and doctor follow-up)

Uncontrolled hypertension (irregular medication, frequent crises, no monitoring)

Well-Controlled Hypertension

In many patients whose blood pressure is stable under medication, dental implants can be performed safely with:

Pre-operative blood pressure check

Stress reduction (calm environment, clear explanations, short appointments)

Local anaesthesia techniques adapted to your condition

Close coordination with your cardiologist or family doctor, if needed

At Milim Dental Bursa, we always:

Take a detailed medical history

Measure your blood pressure before treatment

Adjust timing and duration of surgery to your tolerance

Uncontrolled Hypertension

If your blood pressure is not under control, we may:

Postpone surgery

Refer you back to your physician for adjustment of medication

Only proceed once your general doctor confirms that you are stable

Safety comes first. Our goal is not just to place implants, but to keep you safe during and after the procedure.

4. Diabetes and Dental Implants – Is It Still Possible?

Another very frequent question is:

“I have diabetes. Can I still have implants, or will they fail?”

Again, the key difference is between:

Well-controlled diabetes

Poorly controlled diabetes

Well-Controlled Diabetes

If your diabetes is under control (with diet, tablets or insulin) and your doctor is monitoring you, implants can often be placed successfully with:

Good planning

Antibiotic and antiseptic protocols where indicated

Careful control of infection and healing

Close follow-up and maintenance

Studies show that well-controlled diabetic patients can have implant success rates close to non-diabetic patients, provided that:

Oral hygiene is excellent

Blood sugar control remains stable

Regular check-ups are maintained

At Milim Dental Bursa, we routinely:

Ask about your latest blood sugar or HbA1c values

Communicate with your endocrinologist or family doctor when necessary

Plan surgery for the time of day when your blood sugar is most stable

Provide clear instructions on eating and medication on the day of surgery

Poorly Controlled Diabetes

If blood sugar is high and unstable, the risk of:

Infection

Delayed wound healing

Implant failure

is significantly higher. In those situations, we will:

Delay implant surgery

First focus on periodontal treatment and basic oral health

Encourage stabilising your diabetes with your medical doctor

Only when the general health picture is safer do we proceed with implants.

5. What About My Parents? Implants for Mother and Father in Older Age

Many patients at Milim Dental Bursa ask not only for themselves, but also for their parents:

“My mother wears a loose denture; can she have fixed teeth with implants?”

“My father is tired of removable prostheses; is he too old for surgery?”

Factors We Check in Older Parents

When evaluating your mother or father for implants, we carefully examine:

General health: heart disease, stroke history, diabetes, lung disease, kidney issues

Medications:

Blood thinners (aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin, DOACs)

Osteoporosis drugs (especially IV bisphosphonates or certain injections)

Immune-suppressing medications

Bone quality: how much bone is available for implants

Dexterity and hygiene: can they clean around implants and prostheses?

Expectations: do they want fully fixed bridges, or would an implant-supported overdenture be more realistic?

Typical Solutions for Older Parents

Depending on the case, options may include:

2–4 implants with a removable overdenture

Greatly improves stability compared to a normal denture

Easier to clean than very complex fixed solutions

Full-arch fixed bridges on more implants

For suitable, medically stable parents who want fully fixed teeth

Requires very precise planning and strict hygiene

Segmental solutions (implants only in certain key areas)

To improve chewing on one or both sides

Less invasive than full-mouth reconstruction

The goal is always to balance:

Medical safety

Surgical complexity

Chewing function

Ease of cleaning

Total treatment time and cost

6. How Milim Dental in Bursa Evaluates Complex Cases

Whether it is you, your mother or your father, the process at Milim Dental Bursa follows a similar structure.

Step 1 – Medical & Dental Assessment

Full medical history, including:

Hypertension

Diabetes

Heart disease

Stroke history

Medications

Dental and periodontal examination

Panoramic X-ray and, if needed, CBCT 3D scan

Step 2 – Risk Analysis and Discussion

We explain, in simple language:

What is possible

What is risky

What might be better avoided

We coordinate with your cardiologist, endocrinologist or family doctor when necessary.

Step 3 – Personalised Treatment Plan

Based on age, bone, blood pressure, diabetes control and expectations, we propose one or more options, for example:

Implant-supported overdentures

Fixed bridges on implants

Combined solutions with some implants and some natural teeth

Or, in some cases, non-implant solutions if surgery risk is too high

Everything is written and explained clearly, so you and your family can make an informed decision.

7. When Dental Implants May Not Be Recommended

Being honest also means knowing when to say “no” or “not now”.

Implants may be postponed or not recommended if:

Hypertension is poorly controlled with frequent crises

Diabetes is severely uncontrolled and not stabilised

There is a history of recent heart attack or stroke without clearance from the doctor

The patient is on certain IV osteoporosis medications with high risk of jaw complications

General health is extremely fragile (advanced heart failure, severe immunosuppression, etc.)

Oral hygiene is very poor and the patient is unable or unwilling to improve it

In such cases, we at Milim Dental Bursa will discuss:

Safer prosthetic alternatives

Simpler, less invasive solutions

Or a staged approach (improve health and hygiene first, then reconsider implants)

8. What You and Your Parents Can Do to Improve Implant Success

If you or your parents are considering implants, you can already start improving your chances of success by:

Taking medications regularly for blood pressure and diabetes, as prescribed

Keeping regular follow-ups with your physician

Quitting or reducing smoking if possible

Improving daily oral hygiene: brushing twice a day, cleaning between teeth

Controlling weight and diet to help stabilise blood sugar and blood pressure

Being honest with your dentist about all medical conditions and medications

Dental implants are not only about the jaw; they are about the whole body. A healthier body means a safer surgery and better long-term results.

9. Key Takeaways – “Can I, My Mother and My Father Still Get Implants?”

Age alone is not a barrier to dental implants. Many patients over 60, 70 and even 80 can be treated safely.

Bone loss does not automatically rule out implants; with CBCT planning and bone grafting, many cases are still possible.

Hypertension and diabetes do not forbid implants if they are well controlled and monitored.

Your parents can often move from unstable dentures to more secure implant-based solutions, depending on their health and bone.

The decision must always be individual, after medical evaluation and careful planning.

aAt Milim Dental in Bursa, Turkey, our implant and oral surgery team led by Dr Ali Direnç Ulaşan focuses on:

Safety first

Realistic expectations

Long-term stability

Clear, honest communication with you and your family

If you, your mother or your father are asking,

“We are older, we have bone loss, blood pressure and diabetes… can we still have implants?”

the next step is a detailed clinical and radiographic consultation, so we can give you a personalised, medically responsible answer – not just a generic promise.