Quick Answer
Most healthy adults are candidates for dental implants — age, well-controlled diabetes, and even bone loss rarely disqualify you (grafting and zygomatic implants help), and titanium implants are MRI-safe.
Here's the good news up front: most healthy adults are candidates for dental implants — and a surprising number of people who assume they're not actually qualify once they're properly evaluated. The factors people worry about most (age, diabetes, bone loss) are rarely the dealbreakers they're feared to be. Let's go through them honestly so you know where you really stand.
- Older age (70s, 80s) — Does it disqualify you?: No — overall health matters more than age
- Diabetes — Does it disqualify you?: No, if it's well-controlled
- Bone loss — Does it disqualify you?: Usually no — grafting and zygomatic options exist
- Smoking — Does it disqualify you?: Higher risk, but not an automatic no
- Gum disease — Does it disqualify you?: Treat it first, then proceed
- Pregnancy — Does it disqualify you?: Wait until after
Is there an age limit for dental implants?
There's no upper age limit. Plenty of patients in their 70s and 80s get implants and do beautifully — what matters is your general health, not the number on your birth certificate. There is a minimum age, because the jaw needs to be fully grown (typically the late teens). So it's far more often "you're a great candidate" than "you're too late."
Can you get dental implants with diabetes?
Yes — well-controlled diabetes is not a barrier, and studies show success rates comparable to those of non-diabetic patients. Long-term data puts 10-year implant survival around 99% in systemically healthy patients versus roughly 96% in those with managed systemic conditions — still excellent. The one caveat is that uncontrolled blood sugar slows healing (and, alongside smoking and gum disease, is a recognized risk factor for peri-implant problems), so stabilizing your levels before surgery meaningfully improves your outcome. Your surgeon and physician can coordinate on this.
What if I've been told I don't have enough bone?
"You don't have enough bone" is one of the most common things patients hear — and it's rarely the end of the road. Bone grafting, sinus lifts, mini implants, and zygomatic implants make treatment possible for the large majority of people who've been turned away elsewhere. (See our bone grafting and zygomatic implants pages.)
Can you get an MRI with dental implants?
Yes. Titanium dental implants are MRI-safe — they won't be affected by the scan and they don't pose a danger in the machine. It's good practice to mention them to the technician, but they are not a contraindication and won't stop you from getting an MRI.
The only way to know for sure
A free consultation with a 3D scan answers the candidacy question definitively in one visit — far better than guessing or assuming the worst. Many people walk in expecting a "no" and leave with a clear, affordable plan.