How Long do Dental Implants Last?

While dental implants are a high-technological and reliable tooth replacement, it’s obligatory to know their lifespan and the possibility to prolong it.

Many people choose dental implants because of their appearance and functionality.

Features of Dental Implants

They look like your natural teeth (or even better) and function in the same way. However, it’s important to remember that they’re not the panacea for all tooth diseases. Inflammations and other issues can still occur, and you do need to take the right care of them to prevent any problems.

Dental implants may look the same as natural teeth, but they’re very different from them. They’re attached directly to your jawbone and can withstand a lot of pressure. They’re designed to be a permanent replacement for your teeth and therefore are used in many different situations.

One of them is missing teeth. If you’ve got a tooth (several teeth) missing, dental implants can be the perfect choice. Patients who get dental implants can finally smile with confidence. They do get a big boost of their self-esteem and improve the overall quality of life.

This technology is also used if the patient has some kind of dental disease. Dental implants help to reduce the pressure on the jawbone and preserve its structure. This prevents bone deterioration and can be a real blessing to patients with such conditions.

Dental implants are a stronger alternative to natural teeth and are more capable of withstanding severe pressure. Taking this into account, the life of dental implants is actually quite long. With the right care, they can last for more than 25 years.

If this number surprises you, here are the basic components of a dental implant. They give a clear picture about why dental implants can last for so long:

• Implant. The titanium or zirconia element that is attached to the jawbone. This is essentially the root of the implant and it serves as a base for the crown;
• Abutment. This is the metal part that connects the root of the implant, which is osseointegrated into the jawbone with the artificial crown. It stays above the gumline and holds the crown in place;
• Crown. An artificial tooth, usually made of ceramic, that is attached to the abutment and serves the same functions as a natural tooth.

There are several alternatives to dental implants though. These include dental bridges, dental crowns, dentures, etc. However, dental implants have many benefits. They don’t put strain and pressure on neighboring natural teeth and they are a more long-lasting solution. They also don’t require special cleaning techniques.

If a patient has many loose or missing teeth, he or she can opt for all-on-4 dental implants.

How Long do Lll on 4 Dental Implants Last?

They are made of the same material as conventional dental implants and with the right care they can last for more than 20 years as well. The patient should remember to treat his implants as natural teeth and not use them to bite on hard objects. Severe pressure is not good for natural teeth and it’s damaging for dental implants, too.

So, how long will dental implants last? They are a permanent solution, but that doesn’t mean you won’t need replacements in the future. It all depends on the right care and maintenance. They can fail as well as your natural teeth because of inflammation and tissue rejection, even though it’s quite rare.

Why do dental implants fail? As we’ve already noted, dental implants are designed to be a permanent solution when properly cared for. However, there are a few factors that can cause their premature failure. For instance, patients with pre-existing health problems (diabetes, cancer, etc.) have a higher risk of their implants failing early.

Poor care for dental implants may also lead to gum disease, which will also shorten the lifespan of implants. Diseases such as gingivitis and periodontal disease are in many cases a result of poor oral hygiene. This is because the plaque that is not taken care of slowly lowers the gum line and exposes the roots of the teeth. Therefore the roots and the tissue which connects them to the jawbone is easily inflamed and damaged. It’s clear that preventing this with the right oral hygiene and regular flossing is a key to prolonging the life of dental implants.

The lifespan of dental implants heavily depends on the oral hygiene of the patient. But that is not the only factor. Dental implants depend on such factors as:

• Your oral hygiene - how well and how often you brush and floss your teeth is a key. You need to do it at least twice a day and for about two minutes each time. Remember to be effective with it and brush every hidden area where the plaque might gather;

• Eating habits - what you eat and especially how you eat are also a great factor. Biting or chewing on very hard foods or even regular items is not very good for the dental implants. Some bad eating habits, like excessive chewing or putting pressure on the teeth with the tongue will also negatively affect the lifespan of the implants;

• Your dentist - the dentist’s skills and experience also plays a big role in the life of dental implants. A skillful dentist will do a better work at installing and osseointegrating the implants and therefore it will only prolong the implants’ lifespan;

• Implant’s location - implants placed at the back of the mouth receive more pressure when chewing and biting. Therefore they are more exposed to that pressure and can fail more quickly than the ones that are positioned closer to the front;

• Your lifestyle - if you keep to a healthy lifestyle, it greatly increases the longevity of your dental implants. That includes not having bad habits like drinking alcohol and smoking, eating healthy food, not damaging your teeth and gums. You should also treat your new artificial teeth as natural teeth and not bite the objects causing the teeth to break or loosen.

Keeping all of the above in mind, we might ask “Can dental implants last forever?” Well, they usually last for 20-25 years or more, so with the right care, maintenance and lifestyle it’s possible to increase this period. However, it’s a good idea to visit your dentist at least twice a year for regular check-ups. Specialists give the right advice due to which your dental implants can only benefit.

If you want more information on dental implants, feel free to contact us for a consultation. Our dentists are well-trained and have years of experience in installing dental implants, as well as crowns, bridges, dentures, aligners etc. If you decide to have dental implants, we ensure you will be very pleased with the result. Contact us to schedule an appointment with our specialists.