How Long Do Dental Implants Last: Factors That Influence Lifespan
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Modern dentistry provides numerous solutions for patients who need certain help with their teeth. You can easily gain your perfect smile with the help of Invisalign aligners, braces, professional cleaning, or dental implants. Dental implants are a perfect solution for people with missing teeth, which can be inconvenient in your day-to-day life and damaging to your self-esteem. They are a permanent solution that can replace missing teeth and look completely natural. However, teeth implants also need special care, and as the years go by, they fail and require a replacement. In this article, you will learn how long do dental implants last and how to care for them properly to increase their lifespan.
Factors Influencing Dental Implant Longevity
Many patients wonder how long do teeth implants last. There is no clear answer to this as it depends on a range of factors. You can contribute to the longevity of your implants by taking care of them, although some aspects are out of patients’ control.
Quality of the Implant
Do dental implants last forever? Some of them do, while others will fail after a few years. With teeth implants, you definitely should make a good investment to receive a high-quality product. The brand of dental implants is hugely important as all implants differ in quality. You will not be able to save money on this procedure as installing cheaper implants will lead to reinstalling them after some time, whereas top-quality models will last for decades.
Placement and Surgical Technique
The skill of your dentist will influence how long will dental implants last. The implant posts are drilled into the bone after cutting to open your gum. It is crucial to place the implant properly and take into consideration the overall health of each patient to determine the optimal position. Improper placement might lead to implant failure and other difficulties.
Patient’s Oral Health
Your oral health and overall condition will influence dental implants longevity directly. Here are some key factors that will define the lifespan of your teeth implants.
- Bone density. As teeth implants are placed directly into the bone after drilling a hole in it, it is crucial to have enough bone structure to support the implant. X-rays are taken to see whether your jaw will be fitting for dental implants. If there is not enough density and the implants are installed, they will be at a high risk of failing after some time. Luckily, there are various solutions for people who cannot have teeth implants installed. This includes dental bridges that consist of dental crowns and fake teeth, which do not require surgeries. Full-mouth and partial dentures can be a good solution for people who lost all of their teeth or most of them.
- Overall medical conditions. Some diseases and conditions might decrease the longevity of dental implants. Specific treatments also cut short dental implant lifespan. Such diseases and their respective treatments include various cancers, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, etc.
- Periodontal disease. The health of your gums is also crucial for the success of dental implants. Not addressing gum disease before installing teeth implants might lead to bone loss, various infections, and issues with the implants.
To know whether you are eligible for dental implants, you should have an appointment with a dentist. Your health dictates how long will a tooth implant last, which is why dentist evaluates their patients’ health before proceeding with the teeth implants. If some health issues prevent you from getting dental implants, your dentist will offer some fitting alternatives.
Lifestyle Choices
Before wondering how long do dental implants last, it is essential to look at your lifestyle and habits. Many unhealthy habits are damaging to overall health, although some of them can affect teeth implants and shorten their longevity. Here are the habits and lifestyle choices that will affect your teeth implants negatively:
- Poor oral hygiene. It is unhealthy for teeth and implants. Gum disease can be caused as a result of poor hygiene, which might lead to dental implant failure.
- Smoking. While dental implants are made of durable materials, it is the overall health of your teeth and oral cavity that can decrease because of smoking and affect the teeth implants as well.
- Unhealthy diet. Eating unhealthy might lead to losing your teeth and needing dental implants in the first place. In addition, eating lots of hard food can damage the implants.
Nobody is perfect, and everyone has some unhealthy habits. However, it is important to know the influence of these habits on your health and teeth implants to prepare for potential consequences.
How Long Do Dental Implants Typically Last?
Extensive research has been conducted on the longevity of dental implants. Teeth implants normally last anywhere from 15 to 20 years. However, it is an average number, and many implants can last well over 20 years. Proper care increases the lifespan of teeth implants significantly. Taking care of your health is also crucial.
Comparing Dental Implants to Other Tooth Replacement Options
In certain cases, people cannot install dental implants. Various alternatives exist to accommodate all patients:
- Bridges. This option is convenient for patients missing one tooth or a few more teeth. A bridge consists of dental crowns and fake teeth between them to fill in the gaps. The crowns are attached to patients’ teeth on both sides.
- Dentures. They are fitting for people missing most or all of their teeth. The dentures attach to your gums using suction or special adhesive. They are removable, and you can wear them at any time.
- Partial dentures. This option provides more coverage than bridges, although it still covers fewer teeth than full dentures. If you are missing various teeth in different places, this might be a good option. Moreover, they are removable.
Your dentist will be able to help choose the best option as an alternative for teeth implants.
Extending the Life of Your Dental Implants
If you want your implants to serve for a long time, follow these simple tips:
- Choose a good dentist. It is crucial to have a high-quality specialist installing your implants for their longevity.
- Maintain oral hygiene. Brush your teeth regularly, use floss and mouthwash to keep up good oral hygiene. This will prevent various oral diseases that can also influence dental implants.
- Visit your dentist regularly. It is important to do your regular checkups twice a year as well as go through professional cleaning.
- Eat healthy. A healthy diet will be beneficial for your overall health and the state of your teeth and implants. Avoid eating too much sugar and hard foods.
Avoid unhealthy habits like smoking and excessive drinking as well. Such habits also damage your teeth and dental implants, not to mention their impact on overall health.
Signs That a Dental Implant May Need Attention
It is normally easy to tell if you need to consult the doctor about your dental implants. Keep an eye out for these signs:
- Pain. If you are feeling pain around your implants at any time or while eating, this is not normal. There might be an infection, inflammation, or other problems.
- Lose implants. All teeth implants must be attached to the bone firmly and remain unmovable just like your natural teeth. If an implant becomes loose, it definitely needs some attention.
- Receding gums. If you can see that the gums around your implants do not look right, it is not a good sign. Sometimes, even metal parts of the implants can be seen when they should be covered with gum tissue.
As soon as you start having some issues with the implants, make sure to refer to your dentist promptly.
Dental implants provide long-term solutions for people with missing teeth. Modern implants can provide incredible quality. Paired with proper maintenance and a healthy lifestyle, these implants can serve you for decades. This is a big investment in oral health that should not be taken lightly. Make sure to choose high-quality implants if you want them to serve for many years.
Dental Implant Lifespan: The Most Common Questions
How often should dental implants be replaced?
Tooth implants are supposed to be permanent, although their longevity depends on a number of factors. The average life of dental implants varies from fifteen to twenty years. In some cases, people can wear their implants for many decades.
Can teeth implants last a lifetime?
Yes, teeth implants can technically last a lifetime. This depends on many factors, such as your lifestyle, the care you put into maintaining these implants, and the age when you received your implants. As the life of dental implants can last decades, installing them as an adult might lead to them listing throughout your whole life.
What happens to dental implants after 20 years?
The average life of teeth implants is twenty years, and patients might experience implant failure as time passes. Some symptoms include pain, swelling, redness, implant movement, and more. It is crucial to see your dentist if your implant starts giving you trouble.
Are dental implants permanent?
Yes, they are a permanent solution for patients who have lost their teeth. The life expectancy of dental implants can go up to decades, although they need to be replaced after time in some cases. Nevertheless, they are expected to be permanent and provide a long-term solution for treating missing teeth and improving your smile.
Additional Resources
Visit these resources to learn additional information about dental implants:
https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/how-long-do-dental-implants-last
