Around 100,000 to 300,000 dental implants are placed by dental surgeons every year.
Despite the number of dental implants in people’s mouths nationwide, some are still wondering, “How long do dental implants last?”
In this article, we spoke to a Cosmetic Dentist in Clackamas to give you the answer as well as a few reasons why they can fail early.
Keep reading to find out what you should know about dental implants and their lifespans.
Table of Contents
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are helpful when someone loses or doesn’t have at least one of their adult teeth. Today, dental implants can look very natural. The false teeth come in many different shades to match your teeth perfectly.
There are six different types of dental implants. They include the following types.
- Endosteal implants
- Subperiosteal implants
- Mini dental implants
- all-on-four implants
- Implant overdentures
- Implant-supported bridges
Each type is helpful for different cases that need dental implants. Talking to your dentist will help you decide which one you will need.
The Procedure
When you are getting dental implants, the procedure is fairly straightforward. The surgeon cuts open the gums to reveal the jawbone. Then, they use a surgical drill to make holes in the bone.
Next, the implant is placed in the hole, and the procedure is over for now. The metal implant must fuse with the jawbone during the healing process, so it becomes a strong base for the false tooth.
After 6 to 12 weeks, an abutment is fitted into the implant, and a false tooth is attached to the abutment.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
If you are asking, “how long do dental implants last”, can be difficult to get a straight answer. Your dental implant should last up to 15 years. Yet, if it rejects or doesn’t receive proper care, it can fail earlier.
Dental implants are meant to be long-term fixes to the problem of a missing adult tooth. Most of the time this is the case. The lifespan of dental implants largely depends on the lifestyle choices of a patient.
Additionally, it can fail for two reasons unrelated to the patient’s oral care habits. In these cases, it is due to peri-implantitis or osseointegration. As dental implant technology advances, these have become increasingly rare.
Common Dental Implant Issues
Dental implants can have a shorter lifespan due to some factors. One common reason is poor oral hygiene. Bad hygiene can lead to gum inflammation and gum disease.
When the gums become inflamed, they can pull away from the restoration and cause infection which leads to dental implant failure.
More issues that can lead to dental implant failure include the following.
- Teeth grinding
- Disease
- Smoking and using alcohol
- Cancer
- Strain from chewing
It is important to take good care of your teeth to keep your implant in good shape. Visiting your dentist for regular checkups, flossing, and using proper brushing habits will help.
Make Your Dental Implants Last
Dental implants are an investment for many people. You must care for yours correctly so they can last as long as possible.
If you are wondering “how long do dental implants last”, the answer is often “up to 15 years or as long as you care for them properly”.
There is a lot to know on the topic of dental implants. If you want to learn more about them, check out the rest of our blog page.
