Do dental implants last forever? Nothing lasts forever, but with care, implants can last for decades and even a lifetime, depending on your age. Although there is a risk with any medical or surgical procedure, some factors can significantly affect how long dental implants last. Before diving into how long an implant lasts, let’s explain how an implant works.
How do dental implants work?
A dental implant is usually made from titanium, a biocompatible metal accepted by the body. The implant is inserted below the gum line into the jawbone, where after a few months, it integrates with the bone in a process called osseointegration. This creates a solid platform to support an artificial tooth (dental crown), which is attached several months after the implant surgery has taken place.
Do implants last forever?
While technically, the titanium implant post can last a person’s lifetime, the porcelain dental crown will likely need replacing around the 15-year mark. However, it’s generally agreed that dental implants can last, on average, for between10 to 20 years.
Moreover, with the advances in technology that make implant placement and outcomes more predictable, there is no reason that they shouldn’t last longer with good oral hygiene. As well as the ongoing care for a dental implant, one of the other essential factors for its longevity is the initial placement.
What affects dental Implant placement?
One of the fundamental requirements for dental implants is a sufficient volume of dense, healthy bone available in the jawbone to support the implant and give it the best chance in life. Insufficient bone may lead to problems with osseointegration, causing early implant failure.
Detailed treatment planning, bone assessment and the skill of your surgeon or dentist all have a bearing on reducing the risks associated with osseointegration. So, if you want your dental implants to last ‘forever‘ it’s essential to choose an experienced dentist with a good track record in successful implants. However, even with the best surgeon placing your implants, other factors could cause the implant not to last as long as hoped. These include:
Smoking
Smoking increases the risk of peri-implantitis. This is an inflammation of the soft tissue around the implant site caused by infection of bacterial plaque. Smoking weakens the body’s ability to fight infection because it reduces blood flow, making it harder for your gums to heal.
Many dentists will not place dental implants in smokers because the risk of the implant failing is too high. If you smoke and are considering dental implants, you will have to think seriously about quitting. Not only does smoking cause problems during the osseointegration process, but smokers also suffer more from gum disease than non-smokers, which can affect how long an implant lasts.
Oral health
Patients with oral health problems, such as gum disease, may not be good candidates for dental implants, at least not initially. Gum disease will need to be treated before a patient can undergo dental implant surgery, as implants need to be placed into a healthy mouth to last.
Furthermore, the rate at which you accumulate tartar, plaque and bacteria around the implant area can affect how long dental implants last. Thus, if you have a genetic predisposition for tartar accumulation or gum disease, you need to be particularly vigilant with your oral health.
Oral hygiene
The most common cause of gum disease is poor oral hygiene. If you don’t brush and floss your teeth every day, a sticky film of bacteria called plaque will build up on them. Plaque can harden into calculus (tartar). Bacteria in plaque and calculus produce toxins that irritate the gums, causing inflammation (gingivitis). This is the earliest stage of gum disease that, if treated, is reversible. But, if left untreated, gingivitis can escalate to a more severe condition – periodontitis. This disease is irreversible and can damage the tissues and bone that support the teeth. Bone loss around the implant (peri-implantitis) is difficult to treat and can eventually lead to failure of the dental implant if treatment is not successful.
Patients with dental implants must have a good oral hygiene routine and continue to visit the dentist as often as recommended for check-ups and preventive care, including deep cleaning around gum pockets to keep the gums healthy. Ultimately, this will help their implants last longer.
Medical conditions
Some patients may be susceptible to dental implant failure due to issues with their overall health and pre-existing medical conditions.
Some medical conditions can increase the risk of complications when a person receives dental implants, including diabetes and osteoporosis. People with these conditions are not necessarily precluded from having dental implants. However, they do need to be monitored closely by their dentist and their primary care physician before and after surgery to ensure that there are no complications from either their condition or their implants.
If you have diabetes, you will need to have excellent control over your blood sugar levels because people with diabetes have an increased risk of developing periodontal disease, which can impact how long your implant lasts.
Do dental implants last forever? – The bottom line
Everyone is different, and those with medical conditions or who allow their oral hygiene to lapse may be more susceptible to complications with dental implants. However, if you live a healthy lifestyle, maintain good oral health, and visit your dentist frequently for check-ups, you should have no problems and can have a dental implant that should last for many years, if not your lifetime.
Are you considering dental implants?
Why not schedule an implant consultation with the experienced dentists at a No Gaps dental clinic near you. We provide top quality implants and offer a variety of payment plans to help patients spread the cost of their treatment. While we can’t guarantee how long our implants last, we support our patients every step of the way.
Call us on (02) 8806 0227 today.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Nobel Biocare – 4 Tips on Lowering Risks to Osseointegration
https://www.nobelbiocare.com/blog/news/early-dental-implant-failure-4-tips-on-lowering-risks-to-osseointegration/
American Academy of Periodontology – Peri-implant Diseases
https://www.perio.org/for-patients/periodontal-treatments-and-procedures/dental-implant-procedures/peri-implant-diseases/
CDC – Smoking, Gum Disease and Tooth loss
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/periodontal-gumdisease.html#:~:text=How%20Is%20Smoking%20Related%20to,for%20your%20gums%20to%20heal.