{"id":244,"date":"2025-08-21T16:21:47","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T16:21:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gillisdental.com\/blog\/?p=244"},"modified":"2025-08-21T16:21:48","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T16:21:48","slug":"dental-implants-help-you-live-longer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gillisdental.com\/blog\/2025\/08\/21\/dental-implants-help-you-live-longer\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Dental Implants Help You Live Longer? The Answer Might Surprise You!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Healthy<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The average life expectancy in the United States is around 77 years of age. However, many people live well into their 80s or 90s. A few fortunate people even become centenarians! While there are many things you can do that have the potential to help you live longer, one important thing that you might not have thought about is your smile. In fact, it is reasonable to believe that replacing lost teeth with dental implants<\/a> might help you live longer. Why? This blog post explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Tooth Loss and a Shortened Life Expectancy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A number of studies have been conducted that examined tooth loss and its connection to lifespan. The results consistently showed that edentulism (the state of being toothless), or even just the loss of multiple teeth, is associated with a shorter life. For example, data from 2015 showed that people with 20 or more teeth at age 70 were likely to live longer than those with fewer than 20 teeth. A separate study showed that, among people who lived to be 100, there was a lower rate of edentulism at ages 65 \u2013 74 than among those with a shorter lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does this data mean that tooth loss actually causes <\/em>a shorter life? Not necessarily. Often, tooth loss is the result of factors that can significantly affect a person\u2019s overall health. For example, advanced gum disease can result in missing teeth, and <\/em>it is associated with an increased risk of issues like heart attack and stroke. Smoking, a poor diet, and poor overall quality of life can also lead to an early death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Potential of Dental Implants to Help You Live Longer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a number of ways in which dental implants might improve your health and lead to a longer life:<\/p>\n\n\n\n