How Long Do Dental Implants Last

With dental implants requiring time and investment, it’s understandable that one of the first questions many patients ask when considering dental implants is how long they will last.

The answer? With the right care and attention, they can last a lifetime.

Thanks to modern developments and enhancements over recent years, implants have become a much more sophisticated dental treatment that can offer plenty of additional benefits when compared to other products available on the market.

Read on as we explore how long can dental implants last for, and what steps can you take to improve their success. 

How long do dental implants last for?

As the gold standard for missing teeth replacement, dental implants are built to last, comprising of an artificial titanium root that anchors new teeth. Thanks to their quality components and robust design, dental implants can last for many years, with some even offering life-long results.

The implant is also designed to be repairable should patients experience the rare scenario in which their tooth chips or breaks. This means that the tooth can be taken out for maintenance or restoration, without impacting on the titanium root.

What can impact my dental implant success?

There are plenty of different factors to consider when exploring how successfully dental implants will be for you.

The first is whether you’re a smoker. Smoking is one of the worst things you can do in any dental scenario as the smoke can permanently stain teeth as well as prevent gums from healing after surgery. More seriously though, it can lead to gum disease which will cause bone loss, leading teeth, including implants, to fall out.

It’s also important to consider if you have any pre-existing medical conditions. For example, those who have an illness that impacts on their immune systems, such as diabetes, can have problems. Medications can also affect the ability of your bones to heal and may impact on the stability of your implant.

However, it will be your dental health that will have the most impact on how successful your implant will be. As already mentioned, gum disease can be a problem for dental implants, and a decaying tooth can also cause issues by overloading the implant. You’ll also have to be wary of tooth grinding or clenching as this can prolong the healing process and deal damage to the implant.

What can I do to improve my implant’s success?

You should follow all of the aftercare advice given to you by your dentist as this will be critical for your implant’s success. You will also want to book regular appointments with your dentist to monitor how your implant is getting on continually. They’ll be able to spot any changes and potentially prevent a complication further down the line.

And to ensure your implant remains completely clean, it’s advisable to book an appointment with a dental hygienist every 3 to 6 months. They’ll be able to keep your implant as clean as possible and prevent the build-up of plaque or other bacteria.

In the first week or two following your surgery, you’ll want to avoid certain foods that could hinder the healing process. For example, crunchy foods can inflame the tender gum tissue, while hard foods can require too much chewing that could damage the implant area.

Heavy drinkers or smokers should consider cutting down. Smoke can cause the implant to turn yellow, while the acidic nature of alcohol can inflict damage on the gums that can lead to the implant failing.

What happens when I get my dental implant?

When getting your implant, your dentist will first ensure that you are health and your mouth has enough bone to host the root successfully.

You will then undergo surgery in which the root is placed into the socket within the bone where the missing tooth sat. Your jawbone will then heal around the implant, securing it in place.

Then, a small connector will be placed to hold the new tooth to the root securely. And finally, once your dentist has taken impressions of your teeth to create an accurate and natural replacement, your implant will be fitted to the connector, and your implant will be complete.

What are the benefits of dental implants? 

Dental implants are one of the best options for replacing missing teeth. As they sit in the mouth independently, they do not rely on the health of other teeth, enabling them to last much longer than other treatments available.

And, thanks to modern developments, dental implants are designed to appear entirely naturally within the mouth. By using the latest technology, dentists can manufacture implants in a highly precise fashion, ensuring that the desired outcome is always possible.

One of the other leading options for replacing missing teeth is dentures. However, these are not designed to be part of the mouth, resulting in them sliding around the mouth, making talking and eating difficult. Meanwhile, with dental implants, the replacement tooth will feel like a real one, sitting securely within your mouth. Take a look at our pro’s and con’s in our guide- dental implants vs dentures

We’ve put a guide on the best methods to replace missing teeth to answer any further questions you may have