How Long Does a Dental Implant Last?

How Long Does a Dental Implant Last?

25th July 2022

Dental implants are the most popular option in cosmetic dentistry these days. Even though the process is costly, the demand is on the rise all the same. With advanced treatments, dental implants are an easy and permanent solution to your dental problems.

Implants are primarily meant to help with tooth loss due to periodontal diseases, injuries, or tooth decay. These are near-perfect solutions for natural teeth.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are artificial replacements for your natural teeth. The technology involved in the process has revolutionized over the past decades. So much so that implant failures due to poor functionality or rejection are extremely rare.

But if they fail, the common culprits are pre-existing medical conditions or misuse of implants.

What is a Dental Implant Made of?

Implants

The zirconia or titanium posts are surgically inserted inside the jawbone, serving as the crown’s root.

Crowning

The dental crown is a false ceramic tooth fixed atop the abutment and acts as a natural tooth. These crowns are made of zirconia, Emax, porcelain, composite resin, or even gold.

Abutment

The abutment is the final step of dental implants. The crown and post are fastened together for 1-2 weeks to hold the implant in place. A healing collar is also positioned around the affected area of the gum.

Dental implants are permanent processes as the implants are directly screwed with the jawbone. Moreover, the implants are bonded with the surrounding bone tissues to give dentures a solid structure. This process is known as osseointegration.

Durability Factors Of The Crowns And Abutments

In most cases, crowns and abutments are prone to damage compared to implants. That’s because these parts are more exposed and actively involved in chewing and biting food.

How Long Do a Dental Implant Last?

Although implants last longer than 15-20 years, there’s a great chance of crown damage. Any artificial fixing needs careful handling, and there’s no exception.

Given the normal wear and tear of the crown, over 50-80 per cent of cases need crown replacement post 15 years.

The position of a dental implant is also crucial to determining its longevity. If the implants are embedded in the rear side of the mouth cavity, that would involve frequent biting and chewing. As a result, they will wear out faster than the implanted teeth at the front of the mouth.

Factors that Might Reduce Longevity of Dental Implants

In most implant failures, the osseointegration of dental healing is affected due to interference and lack of maintenance.

Poor Quality Maintenance

Poor oral hygiene results in plaque accumulation which can cause gum diseases. When plaque accumulates on implants, it’s called a peri-implant disease. As a result, both gums and jawbones are affected severely.

Bone Insufficiency

It’s necessary to anchor an implant to the jawbones to ensure it’s well secured and lasts long. Therefore, if there isn’t sufficient bone tissue in the jawbone, the implant has a greater chance of failure. Hence, the doctors run X-rays and 3D modelling to understand the quality of bones and determine the implant site.

Smoking

Smoking has a critical effect on oral health as it impacts the oxygen content in the blood. Therefore, in smokers, osseointegration may be worse due to lack of oxygenation.

According to a study, 11% of implants in smokers have failed. At the same time, the rate for non-smokers is only 5%.

Teeth Grinding

If you grind teeth or experience bruxism, your implant will be impacted. On the other hand, any occlusal trauma can cause a fracture to your implant or loosen the screw.

Medical Conditions

If you have an inherent medical condition, it’ll likely lead to dental implant failures. A few medical conditions which can damage implants are diabetes, weak immune system, bleeding issues, and cardiovascular diseases.

Age

Dental implants might fail more frequently in older adults than in other age groups. As in aged individuals, bone and medical conditions are vulnerable. Therefore, healing might be slower in them too.

Improper Surgery

Inexperienced or poorly executed surgery can also impact the implant’s longevity. This can cause issues like unstable crown attachments and tissue traumas. Therefore, imperfect implant designs and placements may lead to implant failure.

Medication Or Treatment

High-dose medications and treatments have intense effects on oral health. Therefore, patients on immunosuppressive drugs, blood-thinning medications, and radiation therapy stand a stronger chance of suffering from delayed implant adjustment or even implant failure.

Maintenance Tips for Dental Implant Longevity

Just as your natural teeth are vulnerable to decay, tartar build-up and plaque, the same applies to dental implants.

The first 24-48 hours need special care. Generally, the surgeon shares all details about the dos and don’ts during this period.

After this period, you can follow the below steps to keep the dental implants healthy and in place.

Tip 1 – Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

Gum health is one of the key determinants of the durability of implants. So, it’s crucial to practice consistent and proper oral hygiene. Like brushing and flossing at least twice a day to remove any build-up that can cause bone degradation. Also, make a habit of using an antimicrobial mouth rinse.

Tip 2 – Avoid Eating Hard And Acidic Food Items

While dental implants can restore up to 75% of your chewing capacity, avoid eating sticky and crunchy items like nuts, popcorn kernels, taco shells, ice, hard candies, and caramels. Even tomatoes, citrus fruits, and hot or spicy foods can harm the implants.

Tip 3 – Schedule Regular Check-Ups With Your Doctor

Surgeons prefer comparing x-rays and measuring gums to check the dental crowns and abutments at least twice a year. These sessions generally also include cleaning dentures and polishing the prosthetic teeth.

Tip 4 – Don’t Smoke

Unless you’d rather damage your implants than quit smoking, never smoke a cigarette again. Apart from impacting your gums severely, not only does smoking increase the risk of bacterial infections, but it also causes bone degradation.

So

If you’re considering dental implants or already have one, you can always drop by Natural Smiles for a thorough check-up.