Tooth loss can affect your ability to eat and speak normally. Restorative dentistry can replace a missing tooth with an implant, bridge, or denture. Dental implants offer a permanent, convenient solution that looks most like your natural teeth.
Due to the upfront cost and long treatment process, there are numerous considerations before deciding on dental implant surgery, such as the dental implant success rate.
The average dental implant success rate is around 94% after 15 years. However, specific factors contribute to the dental implant success rate, including implant diameter and length, periodontal health, general health, and the patient’s age.
Factors Contributing to Dental Implant Success Rates
Several factors influence the dental implant success rate, from the type of implant used to the location of implantation. When discussing dental implant surgery and success rates with your dentist, consider the following:
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Implant Post Diameter
The diameter of the post is an essential factor in overall success rates. Research has shown that dental implants with a small post diameter (<3mm) are more likely to fail, while those with a larger post diameter (>4mm) are more likely to be successful.
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Bone Quality
Bone QualityAnother important factor in dental implant success rates is the quality of the bone in which the implant is placed. Studies have shown that implants placed in denser, higher-quality bone are less likely to fail than those placed in softer, lower-quality bone.
A 2022 study of mini implants demonstrated that the higher the bone quality and quantity percentage, the higher the maximum insertion torque value (ITV). This means that better bone quality offers more stability.
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Implant Length
Shorter implants are more likely to be successful long-term than longer ones. Following dental implant surgery and osseointegration, there is minor marginal bone loss. A 2018 study found that the average margin of bone loss was less in implants less than 7mm long, offering better long-term stability and reducing the risk of late implant failure.
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Patient’s Age
Older patients are more likely to experience implant failure than younger patients. A 2005 study found that patients between 60 and 79 years old have a significantly higher risk of implant failure. This is likely because older patients are more likely to have other health conditions that can interfere with healing, such as uncontrolled diabetes, blood disorders, and head or neck cancers.
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Implant Location
Dental implants placed in the front of the mouth are more likely to be successful than those placed in the back. The front teeth are under less constant pressure than the back teeth. The intense bite force at the rear of the dental arch can wear down restoration and loosen implant posts.
A study found that dental implants at the rear of the lower jaw had a 3.3% failure rate, while dental implants at the front upper jaw had just a 1% failure rate.
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Type of Dental Implants
Two primary techniques are used in dental implant surgery: endosteal and subperiosteal implants. Endosteal implants are the standard implant post and are surgically embedded into the jawbone. Your dentist places subperiosteal implants under the gum tissue directly on top of the jaw.
Endosteal implants have a higher success rate than subperiosteal implants. Because they are placed directly into the jawbone, they have a success rate of 95%. Subperiosteal implants have less structural stability and have a success rate of 93% after 5 years.
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Periodontal Health
Periodontal disease lowers the dental implant success rate. Healthy gum tissue is crucial for anchoring the abutment that connects the restoration to the implant post. Active gum disease can lead to an implant site infection called peri-implantitis, leading to implant failure.
Active periodontal disease can also cause bone loss, which your dentist might need to treat with bone grafts before implant surgery to protect the tooth socket or add volume to your existing bone.
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General Health
Your general health also affects your dental implant success rate. Some conditions can make you a poor candidate for dental implant surgery, including diabetes and smoking.
Discuss your medical history with your dentist and share any medications you take. Drugs that treat depression, anxiety, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and rheumatoid arthritis can affect bone density and your ability to heal.
Increasing the Chances of Successful Implants
Excellent oral hygiene is crucial for ensuring that your dental implants succeed. Implants can become infected, causing the implant post to loosen and the hard and soft tissues to deteriorate. However, there are some practices you can use to increase your chances of long-term dental implant success.
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A Good Oral Hygiene Routine
An oral hygiene routine that includes daily flossing, twice-daily brushing, and rinsing with mouthwash can help preserve your remaining natural teeth and support the health of your dental implants. Wash your hands or use a hand sanitiser before brushing and flossing to avoid introducing bacteria into the implant site.
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Choose Oral Hygiene Products Carefully
Sonic toothbrushes offer the most thorough cleaning, particularly for people with mobility issues.
If you use a manual brush, choose one with soft or extra soft bristles.
Use proper brushing techniques.
Angle the bristles so that they slide between the tooth and gum.
You can use standard floss or floss holders. Look for nylon-coated floss to avoid scratching your implant.
You can also use a Waterpik to gently remove more stubborn food particles.
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Regular Dental Visits
Regular dental visits increase the dental implant success rate. See your dentist for an evaluation and cleaning twice yearly. Your dentist might recommend coming more often after your dental implant surgery or if you have a history of periodontal disease.
Discuss Dental Implant Success Rates with a No Gaps Dentist
If you are considering dental implants, contact No Gaps Dental using our online form to schedule an appointment. Our experienced dentists can answer all your questions about dental implants and their success rate. Call us today on (02) 8007 6727.
To ensure you have the highest chance of successful implant surgery, No Gaps Dental takes precautions to ensure that our practice is sterile and sanitary. We thoroughly sanitise treatment areas and equipment between patients and use a hand sanitiser before each patient. We also offer hand sanitiser for patients to use in waiting areas to prevent disease transmission.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Factors Affecting the Survival Rate of Dental Implants: A Retrospective Study
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5774056/#
Long Term Clinical Performance of 10 871 Dental Implants with up to 22 Years of Follow-up: A Cohort Study in 4247 Patients
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cid.12994
The Survival Rates and Risk Factors of Implants in the Early Stage: a Retrospective Study
https://bmcoralhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12903-021-01651-8
Periodontal Health
https://aap.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/JPER.16-0517#
Implant Outcomes Poorer in Patients With History of Periodontal Disease
https://www.nature.com/articles/6401214#
Is It More Effective to Floss Teeth With a Water Pick or Standard Dental Floss?
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/dental-floss/faq-20058112