How Long Do Dental Implants Last

A healthy smile is a crucial part to each and every one of our lives, and if a smile loses its integrity, it poses a challenging set back to how we feel, function, and look. Luckily, thanks to advancements in the dental industry throughout the decades many people across the globe have been able to restore the appearance and functionality of their smiles permanently.

The restorative benefits of dental implants stand the test of time, and provide a sense of resiliency second to no other procedure.

Understanding the Process

Dental implants are common among patients with broken, extracted, or missing teeth. With each smile being completely unique, a dental professional will investigate your particular situation through a hands-on approach. Performing x-rays and CT scans to fully understand your smile’s nuances, and developing an impression of your teeth to ensure your future implants are a perfect fit.

Posing as a long-standing solution to these issues, dental implants are no trivial endeavor. Their longevity can be attributed to the durable materials utilized to craft them. 

The centerpiece of the implant is the titanium post, which is drilled directly into the jawbone. The durability of titanium is parallel to no other, in fact NASA utilizes this material to craft its otherworldly spacecraft! This may sound harsh, but fear not, those with a dense enough jawbone can withstand this process and those without it may need an extra step of bone grafting in order to reinforce the jawbone beforehand.

Being also curated from a variety of stalwart and lightweight materials is the following addition- the abutment. Which is screwed into the titanium post and acts as a connector for the future artificial tooth to be fused above.

Finally comes the star of the show, the tooth itself. Depending on the number of teeth which need replacing, a dental professional may utilize a single crown, fixed bridge, or full or partial denture to restore the impacted area of your smile.

The artificial tooth (or teeth) is carefully crafted from a variety of sturdy materials like ceramic, porcelain, and resin. The new teeth are now permanent members of your smile; fused into the very fabric of your jaw and not only do they boast the appearance of genuine teeth, their durability ensures the functionality of your smile is fully repaired.

These high-quality artificial teeth are immune to decaying over time, and are the major reason that patients who undergo dental implant procedures maintain a 98% success rate.

Standing the Test of Time

While the procedure is quite demanding, it is well worth the pay-off as it is designed to permanently restore the look and function of the smile.

If well taken care of through a vigorous oral care routine, looked after throughout the years during routine dental checkups, and incorporated into healthy lifestyle choices, the implants may last you a lifetime.

To break it down a bit more, what lasts a lifetime when adopting the aforementioned recommended practices is the titanium post which was anchored into the jawbone. We weren’t lying when we stated NASA also uses this particular material! However, the actual artificial teeth or crowns usually have a lifespan of around 15 years if maintained properly. Afterwards, a replacement may be necessary due to common wear and tear, luckily this process is one third of the work- as the post will usually never expire.

With excellent dental hygiene practices, some patients see crowns last beyond 15 years and even up to 20! Again, this is mostly reliant on how frequently you brush, floss, and participate in semi annual checkups.

Other Determining Factors

Beyond that, the location of the jaw always plays a substantial role in predicting the lifespan of the implant. The rear areas of the mouth are utilized much more in chewing, meaning they will most likely wear out quicker than implants located in the front portion of the smile.

While dental implants possess an undeniable fortitude and celebrate an almost perfect success rate, there may still be hiccups depending on your specific situation. 

Of course, if not properly looked after and cared for routinely, the implants can lose their integrity and cause more harm than good. That’s why following the instructions of your dental professional and adopting positive oral care habits is so crucial!

Furthermore, there are a variety of medical conditions which could also lead to implants failing prematurely. Some of these include those suffering with diabetes, or even different types of cancers. This is why it’s best to participate in routine dental appointments, granting you the ability to communicate with your dentist as your life situation may change.

If you believe dental implants may be the right fit for you, we would be happy to get a close up look of your smile, so we may recommend the best approach, and get the process of enhancing your smile started! If so, book a consultation today!