Is there an age limit for dental implants?
The lower limit is set not by your date of birth but by the end of jaw growth. Cleveland Clinic says you must have finished growing before an implant is placed and gives 18 as the typical minimum age. In teenagers, a gap is therefore usually closed in another way for the time being.
There is no upper age limit. Cleveland Clinic states that there is none, and the American Dental Association (ADA) stresses that your health is more of a factor than your age. In the systematic review by Schimmel and colleagues (2018), implant survival in people aged 75 and over was 96.1 percent five years after the teeth were fitted. How the end of growth is confirmed, and what matters in later life, is explained in our guide Is there an age limit for dental implants?
Why does your general health matter?
Implant placement is a small but real surgical procedure, and healing depends on the whole body. According to the ADA, chronic illnesses such as diabetes may interfere with healing after surgery, which is why some patients are medically evaluated by a physician beforehand. Cleveland Clinic lists bone disorders and some autoimmune conditions, or rather the medicines taken for them, among the factors that can complicate planning.
Heart and circulatory disease is not in itself a reason to rule out implants. In the review by Schimmel and colleagues, implant survival in these patients was similar to that of healthy people; what matters, the authors say, is the general surgical risk. This is why a complete list of your conditions and medicines is so important. What applies to anticoagulants is explained in our guide on blood thinners and dental implants.
Can you have dental implants with diabetes?
With well-controlled diabetes, usually yes. In the systematic review by Wagner and colleagues (2022), success rates under controlled conditions were similar to those in people without diabetes, while patients with poorly controlled diabetes suffered more often from peri-implantitis, an inflammation around the implant. Schimmel and colleagues note that implant survival may fall when the HbA1c value is above 8 percent. Bring your recent results with you. Details are in our guide on dental implants with diabetes.
What about smokers?
Smoking does not rule out implants, but it raises the risk considerably. In the meta-analysis by Mustapha and colleagues (2022), implants in smokers had around 2.4 times the odds of failing compared with non-smokers, and bone loss around the implant was greater. Cleveland Clinic names vaping as well as smoking as something that can disrupt healing. Raise the subject openly at the preliminary assessment; when stopping helps most is covered in our guide on smoking and dental implants.
What should you know about osteoporosis medicines?
Osteoporosis itself rarely stands in the way of implants; what matters is the medicine, its dose and the reason it is taken. Bisphosphonates and denosumab, known as antiresorptive drugs, can in rare cases cause osteonecrosis of the jaw, where bone in the mouth is exposed and does not heal for weeks. According to the 2022 position paper of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), this risk is below 0.05 percent in osteoporosis patients but can reach several percent in cancer therapy. The Royal Osteoporosis Society puts it at 1 to 10 in every 10,000 people taking osteoporosis treatments.
A German S3 guideline on implants under antiresorptive medication (2026) considers implants possible but requires the individual risk of osteonecrosis to be assessed before every implant. Never stop your medicine on your own. How risk, guidelines and coordination with your prescribing doctor fit together is explained in our guide on osteoporosis medication and dental implants.
What applies after radiotherapy to the head and neck?
Radiotherapy that includes the jaw can worsen the long-term result. Schimmel and colleagues found a link between head and neck radiotherapy and lower implant survival. They advise careful planning and an adequate interval of more than twelve months after radiotherapy ends. In such cases, implants are planned in consultation with your oncology team; bring your discharge letters and radiotherapy plan.
Can you have implants during pregnancy?
Implant placement is a planned, non-urgent procedure and is usually postponed until after the birth. That does not mean dental care is off the table: the ADA encourages you to see your dentist while you are expecting and describes necessary treatment such as cleanings and fillings with local anaesthetic as safe for you and your baby. Tell us if you might be pregnant. More in our guide on dental treatment during pregnancy.
Do gum disease or too little bone prevent an implant?
Untreated gum disease (periodontitis) must be treated before an implant is placed. Cleveland Clinic lists active or untreated gum disease, extensive decay and poor oral hygiene among the factors that make implants difficult. Once the inflammation is under control, implants can be reassessed. How gum treatment at home and implants in Türkiye fit together is explained in our guide on gum disease and dental implants.
Too little bone usually means an extra step rather than a refusal. According to Cleveland Clinic, the main requirement is enough healthy bone in the jaw for the implant to take hold; where it is missing, it can be rebuilt. The procedures are described in our guides on a bone graft before implants and a sinus lift.
What does the dentist check at the examination?
The examination usually covers the following points:
- Medical history: chronic conditions, operations, radiotherapy and all medicines
- Habits: smoking, vaping, grinding or clenching your teeth
- Oral findings: gums, decay, oral hygiene and bite
- Cone-beam CT (CBCT): height and width of the bone and the distance to the nerve canal and sinus in three dimensions
- Additional information where needed: blood sugar results or a statement from your treating doctor
At the end of the examination, the implant can be planned directly, a preparatory step such as gum treatment or a bone graft may be needed, or a bridge or denture may turn out to be the more suitable solution. The comparison is in our guide Dental implant or bridge.
What does this mean for treatment in Türkiye?
Most questions about suitability can be settled before you travel. Send us photos of your teeth, any existing X-rays and a list of your conditions and medicines with drug names and doses on WhatsApp, and you will receive a preliminary assessment. If you have diabetes, take antiresorptive drugs or anticoagulants, or have had radiotherapy, ask your doctor at home for a recent report or a short statement and bring it with you. A checklist is in our guide on documents for dental treatment in Türkiye.
A preliminary assessment is not an examination. The General Dental Council advises that you should always be assessed by a qualified dentist before being given a treatment plan, and the final decision is made at the clinic after the examination and the CBCT scan. Do not book your return flight too tightly, and allow for the possibility that a preparatory step changes the number of trips. How many stays are usually needed is explained in our guide How many days do I need to stay in Türkiye for dental implants?
How do we assess suitability for implants at Rönesans?
At our clinic in Serdivan, every implant plan starts with a conversation about your medical history and medicines, an examination of your mouth and a CBCT scan. Where bone is lacking, we carry out bone grafting and sinus lifts ourselves; where needed, treatment under general anaesthesia is possible. Our dentists review your case together, and you know from the start who will treat you.
Before treatment starts, you receive a written treatment and cost plan; the fee is confirmed after the examination. After implant placement you receive an implant card, and follow-up on WhatsApp is part of the treatment. For photos and questions, reach us on WhatsApp at +90 532 363 49 54 or by phone on +90 264 606 09 43. More about the process on our pages dental implants and dental treatment in Türkiye.