Lifespan of a Dental Implant
Dental implants have grown in popularity in the past decade and promise to continue to provide a long-term, attractive, and secure dental restoration option for people who seek to replace one or more missing teeth. If you are missing teeth, you may be researching your options, and you might wonder: just how long-term are dental implants? Dental implants should be considered a sound investment for patients with sufficient healthy bone in their jaw and the ability to maintain effective oral hygiene habits; when they are cared for correctly, dental implants can last as long as 25 years. Healthy dental implants are maintained just like healthy teeth, with daily brushing and flossing and routine professional checkups and cleanings, and understanding the way dental implants work can help remind patients of the importance of proper care.
Dental implants are one type of dental restoration, a larger category of treatments that restore missing teeth. Dental implants rely on an implant post, placed in the jaw, to support a prosthetic tooth or set of teeth. These artificial teeth can be crafted to look just like the natural teeth, and they also feel and act like natural teeth; they are a permanent dental restoration option. The implant posts that support a dental implant restoration are tiny cylinders, often made of titanium, that are surgically planted into the bone of the jaw where the root of a healthy tooth once lived. The tops of the implant posts extend through the gum tissue, just as a tooth root would. After the implant posts have healed, an abutment is attached to the top of the implant post, and the gum tissue heals around the abutment; then, the dental crown, which is the actual artificial tooth or row of teeth, is attached to the abutment. Dental crowns are usually made of ceramic material that can be custom crafted to match adjacent natural teeth in shape, color, and lumosity.
One part of the dental implant procedure that is integral to the longevity of the implant is the healing process, which relies on a process called osseointegration. After the implant post is placed into the jaw, the bone is given time to heal around the post. Implant posts are made of biocompatible material, usually titanium, which stimulates the growth of healthy bone and helps restore the health of the jaw. If you are seeking dental implants and lack sufficient bone density to support implants, your dentist may perform a bone graft procedure in advance of your implant treatment. Bone graft treatments stimulate the growth of healthy bone, and once there is sufficient healthy bone present, the dental implant can be placed; once it is placed, it will stimulate the growth of additional healthy bone. While these healing periods add to the overall time frame of a dental implant procedure, they are essential to the overall success of the dental implants. When the bone strengthens, this helps support the shape and structure of the lower face, and the implants themselves improve the appearance of the smile, for an overall effect that can work wonders on self-esteem. Dental implants are more comfortable than other replacement options, and they’re certainly more comfortable than missing teeth, helping restore their wearer’s ability to eat and enjoy a variety of foods and to speak clearly and without interference from a removable denture or messy adhesive.
Dental implants provide a lifetime of comfort and aesthetics for a vast majority of their wearers, though they are not without their risks. There is a very small chance of error in the placement of implants, but the greatest risk to the long-term success of implants is improper care and the overall health of the patient. Oral hygiene habits are the most important part of proper care, and this includes twice-daily brushing of the teeth and the soft tissues of the mouth, focusing on the gumline, as well as daily flossing. It is also important to see the dentist regularly for checkups and professional cleaning. Dentists and dental hygienists have specialized tools that can thoroughly clean dental implants without damaging their luminous surfaces, and dental checkups can help detect any problems that may have developed with implants and provide a prompt fix. Diet and lifestyle can also influence the success of dental implants; dentists will recommend smoking cessation programs for implant patients who use tobacco and also recommend limiting alcohol consumption, as both smoking and alcohol use increase the risk of gum disease that can lead to implant failure. Dentists also recommend maintaining a healthy diet, including adequate hydration, which can help prolong the life of dental implants by supporting the health of the gums, bones, and overall body.
If you have dental implants and also have a medical condition that causes an increased risk of inflammation or infection, you may need to work with your dentist and your primary care doctor to manage the medical condition before dental implants can be placed safely. This is especially true for patients with diabetes. Other conditions that may affect the success of dental implant treatments include cancer, gum disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and some autoimmune diseases. Certain medications can also interfere with the success of dental implants, so be sure to provide your dentist with a full medical history, including all medications, while planning your implant treatment. Additionally, implants that are placed in the back of the mouth, replacing molars, can naturally be expected to have a shorter lifespan, as they are subjected to disproportionate forces in eating and chewing.
To ensure their long-term success, your dental implants should be placed by an experienced, expert surgeon, so don’t be afraid to ask for evidence of your dental surgeon’s successes. Excessive wear on the teeth or mouth can also shorten the lifespan of a dental implant, and patients should avoid using the teeth for anything other than eating and chewing food -- no gnawing on pens, no opening bottles with your teeth. Dental implants are an investment in your health and happiness, and they deserve to be treated as such; when cared for properly, they can provide a lifetime of healthy smiles.